Aripiprazole as augmentation therapy in bipolar patients with current minor or subsyndromal mood symptoms

Abstract

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aripiprazole augmentation of maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder in patients with minor or subsyndromal mood episodes while on a stable dose of a mood stabiliser and/or antidepressant. Methods: All subjects had a diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th Edition, Text Revision). Open-label aripiprazole was given over 8 weeks initially. The starting dose was 5 to 15 mg/day with a mean final dose of 11.5 mg (±4.6). Patients were assessed at weeks 0, 2, 4 and 8 with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Clinical Global Im..