Atypical Anti-Psychotics in Adult Bipolar Disorder: Current Evidence and Updates in the NICE guidelines

The introduction of atypical antipsychotics in the management of adult bipolar disorder has been increasingly adopted in clinical setting. While new studies continue to emerge, NICE has recently updated the guidelines on the assessment and management of bipolar disorder.

To review the efficacy and tolerability profiles of atypical antipsychotics used to treat adult bipolar disorder in clinical practice, in relation to the latest NICE guidelines.

The recent NICE guidelines (CG185), published in September 2014 was analysed to identify second generation antipsychotics (SGA) for the various presentations of bipolar disorder in adults. A qualitative literature search was conducted to review the evidence to support these changes, and identify randomized controlled trials on off-label and newer SGAs.

With respect to atypical antipsychotics, NICE guidelines introduced olanzapine and fluoxetine combination therapy as first line treatment for moderate to severe bipolar depression; and improved clarity on the treatment of mania, hypomania and rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Evidence from our literature search favour these changes; and recognized other atypical antipsychotics such as aripiprazole, asenapine, lurasidone, ziprasidone and clozapine which could be of potential clinical benefit.