Quetiapine Beats Lithium and Paroxetine for Bipolar Depression

Abstract

Depression continues to be the most difficult-to-treat phase of bipolar illness. Researchers in two large, related, manufacturer-sponsored, randomized, controlled trials compared the efficacy of quetiapine with that of placebo and active control. Patients had bipolar I or II disorder and no comorbid substance use disorder (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, >20; episode duration, 1–12 months). Young and colleagues randomized 802 patients in a 2:2:1:1 ratio to quetiapine 300 mg, quetiapine 600 mg, lithium …