Introduction: New drugs for the treatment of bipolar disorders has widened the therapeutic options for the clinicians, but classical mood stabilizers (MS) still maintain their value in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of MS in the treatment of acute manic episodes in Turkey.
Methods: Data were collected using a form evaluating demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics. Records of 435 patients with bipolar mania who were hospitalized during the year of 2008 from 15 units were included in the study. The data for treatment preferences obtained from the collaborative study on the acute management of bipolar mania in 2004 were compared to the data of the present study.
Results: The rates of MS prescription at first, second and third treatment modality (TM) were %56,3, %69,9 and %78,7, respectively. MS were prescribed as monotherapy in only % 0,9 and %2 of episodes at first and second TM, respectively. MS were used only in combination at third TM. MS were mostly combined with atypical antipsychotics (%80) at first TM. MS were preferred more in patients with medication prior to hospitalization. Treatment response rate was higher in patients medicated with MS. The most commonly prescribed MS were valproate and lithium with blood levels of 76,1±19,8 mcg/ml and 0.79±0.21 mEq/1, respectively.
Discussion: The prescription of MS at baseline treatment in manic in-patients is higher in 2008 when compared with the data of 2004. The high rates of combination therapy is in accordance with the current treatment algorithms.