How solid is the evidence for the efficacy of mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder?

This article addresses the question of what defines a "mood stabilizer." Dr. Bauer expands upon his comprehensive 2004 review by (a) summarizing the conceptual and methodological approach to evaluating the evidence for pharmacotherapeutic options for bipolar disorder; (b) updating the evidence base from recently published controlled monotherapy trials; and (c) review the evidence base for combination therapy options. Finally, he identifies the shortcomings and sources of potential bias in our evidence base, which is critical for an accurate reading of the literature now and in the future.