J M Aubry1, A E Simon, G Bertschy. 1. Département de Psychiatrie, Clinique de Psychiatrie adulte 2, Chêne-Bourg, Geneva, Switzerland. jaubry@worldcom.ch
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Risperidone and olanzapine are atypical antipsychotics that are now widely used in clinical practice. METHOD: A MEDLINE search (1966-1999) showed that, following the introduction of these agents in recent years, 26 cases of induced hypomanic and manic syndromes have been reported during standard olanzapine (N = 10) or risperidone (N = 16) treatment. RESULTS: A critical analysis of these case reports reveals that the effects on mood were sometimes insufficiently documented and that in about half of them (N = 16) evidence is highly suggestive of a causative role of risperidone or olanzapine in the induction of (hypo)manic symptomatology. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations, the available literature confirms intriguing effects of these 2 antipsychotics on mood. The risk factors as well as the mechanisms of action underlying these effects remain to be clarified.
BACKGROUND:Risperidone and olanzapine are atypical antipsychotics that are now widely used in clinical practice. METHOD: A MEDLINE search (1966-1999) showed that, following the introduction of these agents in recent years, 26 cases of induced hypomanic and manic syndromes have been reported during standard olanzapine (N = 10) or risperidone (N = 16) treatment. RESULTS: A critical analysis of these case reports reveals that the effects on mood were sometimes insufficiently documented and that in about half of them (N = 16) evidence is highly suggestive of a causative role of risperidone or olanzapine in the induction of (hypo)manic symptomatology. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations, the available literature confirms intriguing effects of these 2 antipsychotics on mood. The risk factors as well as the mechanisms of action underlying these effects remain to be clarified.