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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
STEP-BD and bipolar depression: what have we learned?
1University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3535 Market Street, Suite 670, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. thase@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract:
This article summarizes recent findings from the STEP-BD project pertaining to bipolar depression treatment. Highlighted are four papers that report, in turn, a large, randomized controlled trial of adjunctive antidepressants; a large, randomized controlled trial of adjunctive psychosocial therapies (cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal social rhythms therapy, and family-focused therapy); a small, randomized controlled trial contrasting lamotrigine, risperidone, and inositol as add-on therapies for refractory bipolar depression; and a naturalistic study of the risks of relapse during preventive therapy. The STEP-BD results highlight the challenge of treating bipolar depression to remission, illustrate the value of adjunctive psychotherapies, and point to new directions for research.
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