Medication treatment for bipolar disorder in children and teenagers

Antipsychotics are significantly more effective than mood stabilizers in treating manic or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

• Published data indicate a lack of randomized controlled trials for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pediatric bipolar disorder.
• Open trials suggest that lithium and lamotrigine may be effective for depressive episodes, while quetiapine did not show efficacy compared to placebo.
• Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of treatments for comorbid disorders associated with bipolar disorder in this population.
• Long-term treatment efficacy data are inconsistent, with only aripiprazole demonstrating effectiveness relative to placebo for symptom reduction and relapse prevention.
• The most commonly reported adverse effects from mood stabilizers include gastrointestinal and neurological issues, while antipsychotics are primarily associated with weight gain and sedation.
• Some studies suggest that treatment with mood stabilizers may be linked to specific impairments in neuropsychological functioning.

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