Differential Efficacy of Olanzapine and Lithium in Preventing Manic or Mixed Recurrence in Patients With Bipolar I Disorder Based on Number of Previous Manic or Mixed Episodes

Abstract

Early-stage (but not intermediate-or later-stage) patients had a significantly lower rate of relapse/recurrence of manic/mixed episodes with olanzapine compared to lithium. Thus, olanzapine maintenance therapy may be particularly effective early in the course of bipolar illness.