Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Survey of Canadian Psychiatrists

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine how Canadian psychiatrists manage bipolar depression. METHOD: A questionnaire specific to the treatment of bipolar depression was mailed to 1639 active members of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty-six completed questionnaires were returned (46.7%). Most psychiatrists indicated that a combination of psychotherapy and somatic therapy was their preferred approach. For bipolar disorder, depressed, lithium carbonate and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the preferred treatment strategies. For substitution, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were the favoured choice. Lithium carbonate was the preferred choice for augmentation and, addition. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that a combination of psychotherapy and somatic therapy is the preferred treatment approach for bipolar depression. Lithium carbonate and SSRIs are the favoured somatic therapies.