Korean Medication Algorithm for Bipolar Disorder 2018 : The Elderly / 우울ㆍ조울병

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The fourth revision of Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) was performed to provide more proper guidelines for clinicians. In this study, we evaluated treatment strategies of elderly patients with bipolar disorders of KMAP-BP 2018.METHODS: Sixty-one psychiatrists of the review committee with vast clinical experiences in treating bipolar disorders, completed the survey. An expert consensus was obtained, on pharmacological treatment strategies for elderly patients with bipolar disorder. The executive committee analyzed results, and discussed the results to produce the final algorithm.RESULTS: In elderly patients with bipolar disorder, first-line treatment option for acute manic episode is monotherapy, with atypical antipsychotics or mood stabilizer, and a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics. First-line treatment option for acute depressive episode, was a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics, monotherapy with atypical antipsychotic or mood stabilizer, and atypical antipsychotics with lamotrigine.CONCLUSION: In KMAP-BP 2018, the recommendation for treatment option in elderly patients with bipolar disorder, was newly introduced. We expect this algorithm may provide valuable information, and facilitate treatment of elderly patients with bipolar disorder.