The nature and management of mania in old age

Mania in old age represents a syndrome involving affective vulnerability in association with neurologic lesions that affect specific areas of the brain. Most patients suffering from mania in late life have converted to bipolarity later in life after many years and often repeated episodes of depression or else have developed mania in association with specific neurologic insults, particularly cerebrovascular disease (vascular mania). The outcome is generally worse in mania than in depression with higher prevalence of cognitive dysfunction, persistent symptoms, and greater mortality. The management of elderly bipolar patients with mood stabilizers reflects the experience with a mixed age population primarily involving the use of lithium carbonate and valproate in appropriately adjusted dosages and serum levels, with valproate having an edge on better tolerability. The use of neuroleptics is often unavoidable in initial stabilization, and electroconvulsive therapy can be life-saving in severely overactive or refractory patients.