MS alone or with AD

[adel_ezz]

This is a question that i heard a diffrence in view about it in Cairo main psychiatric hospital my pdoc told me. Pdocs differ out of experience with pts.

1. Does a mood stabilizer become sufficient to remove depression
2. OR you are bound to use an antidepressant to go along with

perhaps Bulldozer can make this a poll. I feel it's an important question. I hate to see the answer as: "that depends on the person" it does sound very unscientific

ezz

[adel_ezz]

Thank you very much for both of you. Any links to the different theories is greatly appreciated, DSM-5 or up-to-date opinions, ....
adel

[bernie40]

Hi Adel,  you can start a poll if you want to, anyone can start a poll :-)

I have read research that supports both your statements.  For me personally I cannot take an AD even alongside an MS as I get manic anger.  Out of all the MS's I have been on I am finding the lithium as the best one in helping level out my moods.  With the others I still felt very flat.

It is very much down to the individual as BP is so different in each and every person and our physiological make-up, medical history and other health problems all play a part.

[ILADVOCATE]

"It depends on the person" is not unscientific. Everyone differs in their response to medications and the way bipolar expresses itself in each person is different. For myself and many people one mood stabilizer is enough. However, when it doesn't work on mania or depression sometimes another is added. If it doesn't work on depression sometimes an anti-depressent is added but there is the potential of it worsening mania. That much you know. As for "scientific" what we would state would not and could not be scientific. I'm sure I could find some clinical websites and pm them to you as for the various theories on bipolar but I couldn't post them here. Treatment evolves over time and psychiatrists have overall studies and conferences to come to conclusions on treatment modalities. I am very aware of how this works. That doesn't mean I have clinical knowledge nor did I ever claim to. One thing that might interest you is to go to the website of the DSM-5. That will be the new manual psychiatrists use to define various diagnoses to replace the DSM-4. I wouldn't believe a discussion here would be within guidelines but you could learn how they define and rewrite criteria and have a basic understanding of it from a consumer's point of view. And as usual any reccomendations you follow should come from your psychiatrist or another one you consulted with.