Aripiprazole for Bipolar Disorder Maintenance: A Critical Review
Author Information
Author(s): Alexander C. Tsai, Nicholas Z. Rosenlicht, Jon N. Jureidini, Peter I. Parry, Glen I. Spielmans, David Healy
Primary Institution: Harvard University
Hypothesis
What is the evidence supporting the use of aripiprazole in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder?
Conclusion
The evidence supporting the use of aripiprazole for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder is limited to a single trial with significant methodological limitations.
Supporting Evidence
- Only two publications met the criteria for inclusion in the review.
- The trial had a low overall completion rate of less than 1.3%.
- Only 30% of citing publications mentioned adverse events.
- Only 5% of citing publications mentioned study limitations.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether a medicine called aripiprazole helps people with bipolar disorder stay well. It found that there's not enough good evidence to say it really works.
Methodology
The researchers conducted a systematic search for double-blind, randomized controlled trials of aripiprazole for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.
Potential Biases
The trial's findings may be biased due to the enriched sample and the design that could conflate adverse effects with treatment benefits.
Limitations
The study is based on a single trial with a low completion rate and issues related to generalizability and duration of treatment.
Participant Demographics
Adult participants with bipolar I disorder, recruited from multiple sites in the U.S., Mexico, and Argentina.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
0.30–0.91
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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