In reply: Robertson and colleagues highlight that bipolar depression must be treated differently from unipolar depression. It is true that the depressive phase of bipolar II disorder is often mistaken for unipolar depression, with consequent treatment implications, and that correct diagnosis is the first necessary step for correct treatment.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Berk M, Berk L, Davey CG, et al. Treatment of bipolar depression. MJA Open 2012; 1 Suppl 4: 32-35. doi: 10.5694/mjao12.10611. <MJA full text>
- 2. Bond DJ, Noronha MM, Kauer-Sant’Anna M, et al. Antidepressant-associated mood elevations in bipolar II disorder compared with bipolar I disorder and major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry 2008; 69: 1589-1601.
- 3. Amsterdam JD, Shults J. Efficacy and mood conversion rate of short-term fluoxetine monotherapy of bipolar II major depressive episode. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2010; 30: 306-311.
- 4. Yatham LN, Kennedy SH, Parikh SV, et al. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) collaborative update of CANMAT guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder: update 2013. Bipolar Disord 2012; Dec 12 [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1111/bdi.12025.
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.
Relevant disclosures provided in our original article.1