According to the results of a recent survey conducted by Decision Resources (“one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues”), 52.3 percent of newly diagnosed bipolar disorder patients are prescribed antidepressant drugs first line. (See the press release “Astonishing 52 Percent of Newly Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder Patients Receive Antidepressant Drugs in First-Line Treatment.”)

On the surface, the results of this recent survey are alarming, because in bipolar patients, especially those who have Bipolar I, an antidepressant alone without the protection of a mood stabilizer, may be more likely to trigger (or “unmask”) mania in some cases and change the course of the illness. We discuss this in a recent post, entitled “Antidepressant as First-Line Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?” on our Bipolar Blog. As Dr. Fink points out in her comments to the post, care must be taken in drawing any conclusions from the results of this survey – it may not be as alarming as it first appears.

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From Psych Central's Dr. Candida Fink & Joe Kraynak:
» Are You a Victim of Bipolar Diagnosis by Prescription? - Bipolar Beat (August 20, 2008)

    Last reviewed: 18 Aug 2008