Work

Case Report on the Management of Depression in Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type Focusing on Lithium Levels and Measurement-Based Care

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: There is little evidence supporting the management of depression in schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Managing bipolar depression can be a daunting task for clinicians. Most bipolar patients spend 80% of their time in the depressive phase of illness. In contrast with full-blown mania, patients and family frequently fail to recognize bipolar depression, which may interfere with early diagnosis and treatment. With only a few medications approved for bipolar depression, treatment becomes very challenging. There is evidence to support that schizoaffective depression has a worse outcome than psychotic depression and nonpsychotic depression. We report a patient with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type with severe depression who responded to an adequate level of lithium and subsequently, on a combination of lithium and quetiapine. Finally, we emphasize the importance of measurement-based care. To our knowledge, this is the first case report focusing on the management of depression in schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.

Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0b013e3182392d8f

Authors: Maju Mathew Koola, Jan A. Fawcett, Deanna L. Kelly

Institutions: University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of New Mexico

Language: English

Topic: Bipolar Disorder and Treatment

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Bristol-Myers Squibb, National Institute of Mental Health