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Substance use disorders in bipolar disorder: An update

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Current Psychosis & Therapeutics Reports

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) commonly co-occur during the course of bipolar type I disorder, and they can negatively affect illness outcome. This paper reviews recent research examining SUDs in bipolar disorder. These studies confirmed the high prevalence rate of SUDs but found that they are less common in younger patients (< age 17 years). Two new longitudinal studies suggest that a co-occurring SUD worsens the prognosis of bipolar disorder and leads to more affective symptoms and suicide attempts. Two new studies have examined the treatment of bipolar patients with a comorbid SUD. These studies suggest that valproate (as an adjunct to lithium) and aripiprazole may be useful in the treatment of the affective symptoms of bipolar patients with a comorbid SUD and may also help with the treatment of the SUD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way (ML0559), 45267-0559, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Michael A. Cerullo MD & Stephen M. Strakowski MD

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  1. Michael A. Cerullo MD
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  2. Stephen M. Strakowski MD
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Correspondence to Michael A. Cerullo MD.

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Cerullo, M.A., Strakowski, S.M. Substance use disorders in bipolar disorder: An update. Current Psychosis & Therapeutics Reports 4, 171–175 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629392

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