Antidepressant effects of risperidone and olanzapine in bipolar disorder

Total mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores decreased from 17 (SD=3.2) to 5 (SD=1.5) in the risperidone group and from 18 (SD=1.9) to 7 (SD=2.0) in the olanzapine group over 6 months.

• Both risperidone and olanzapine were associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar I/II disorder.
• No patients developed tardive dyskinesia during the study.
• Weight gain was significant in both treatment groups, with a mean gain of 5.9 kg for risperidone and 11.3 kg for olanzapine.
• There was a significant difference in weight gain between the two groups, with olanzapine associated with greater weight gain.

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