[Current concept of mood disorders. Impact on the therapeutic management]

The unipolar-bipolar distinction underlines the recurrence of the disorder (40 to 80% of unipolars and 95% of bipolars) and also the transition from one subtype to the other (10 to 15% of unipolars will become bipolars). Some semiological forms of depressive illness may give clues concerning the required management modalities. Depressions with psychotic features have a good response to ECT or to TCAs+neuroleptics. As other authors, Quitkin et al. find a good response of atypical depression to MAOIs. The comorbidity of mood disorders with personality disorders may be of poor prognosis. Akiskal suggested the presence of a depressive personality, Hudson and Pope suggest the notion of an affective disorders spectrum in which bulimia and OCD have a good response to serotoninergic antidepressants, whereas panic disorders have a good response to clomipramine, imipramine and MAOIs. Patient management should start with taking both the history of the disease and patient's previous treatment with a much precision as possible. Today the focus is on the particular progressive forms of resistant and chronic depressions, among which there are patients who have not received adequate treatment, and of rapid cyclers. The hypothesis of hypothyroïdism in rapid cyclers has been suggested recently. Carbamazepine and Valproate seem to be efficacious in several recent open studies and in controlled for carbamazepine. The initiation of chemotherapy to prevent the recurrences of depression takes into account the unipolar or bipolar aspect of the mood disorder. Lithium has emerged as the prophylactic agent of choice in bipolar disorders, especially if the index episode is manic. Early prophylaxis is justified when the first episode is manic or after two depressive episodes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)