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Bipolar disorder: a pathology with far reaching consequences Volume 13, issue 2, Février 2017

Author
Pour le comité de rédaction de Bibliomed
Société Française de Documentation et de Recherche en Médecine Générale
* Tirés à part

Formerly called manic-depressive psychosis, bipolar disorder is one of the most severe psychiatric disorders. Its diagnosis, which is most often late, has far-reaching consequences for the patient himself and his entourage, whereas early diagnosis and management can improve his comfort and the diagnosis of the disease.

The complexity of the drug strategy echoes that of the diagnostic approach. Lithium remains the reference treatment with the best levels of evidence in the long term, but due to its adverse effects responsible for non-compliance and with a low therapeutic index, it requires regular monitoring throughout life. Will the new mood stabilizers, which are increasingly used, challenge this preponderance?