Interventions for acute mood episodes in patients with bipolar disorder

For patients with bipolar disorder who present in an acute mood episode, quick intervention is needed to minimize hospitalization and prevent catastrophic consequences. Clinicians should consider patients' treatment history, cycling patterns, and the current stage in the disease course before selecting a treatment and should choose agents with a rapid and robust onset of action when initiating pharmacotherapy. Overall treatment of acute episodes should be designed for a smooth transition into maintenance therapy, the success of which is the long-term treatment goal.