Neuroleptic-induced supersensitivity psychosis in patients with bipolar affective disorder

Clinical syndromes thought to arise from neuroleptic-induced dopamine receptor supersensitivity are well described in psychiatry. Tardive dyskinesia may arise from neostriatal supersensitivity and supersensitivity psychosis may arise from mesolimbic supersensitivity in schizophrenics chronically treated with neuroleptics. The authors present 5 cases of supersensitivity psychosis that developed in patients with bipolar affective disorder. The clinical syndrome is described and the implications for the long-term course of bipolar affective disorder are discussed.