Bipolar disorder ; Korean Medication Algorithm ; Feasibility
Keywords
Bipolar disorder ; Korean Medication Algorithm ; Feasibility
Abstract
Objective : The Korean College of Neuro psychopharmacology and the Korean Academy of Schizophrenia developed the Korean algorithm project for bipolar disorder to aid clinical decisions. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of Korean Medication Algorithm for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) in clinical settings in Korea.
Methods : A total of 126 bipolar patients were enrolled at 17 centers. Among them, 92 patients were treated according to the algorithm. All subjects were assessed over a 4-month period. Prescribing investigators were able to change the recommended treatment strategies of the algorithm if necessary.
Results : Overall ratings were favorable, with investigators stating that the overall quality of this algorithm was "good" or "no need to revise". Of manic patients, the majority (79%) showed treatment response (YMRS improvement ≥ 50%) at the first stage.
Conclusion : These results suggest that this algorithm can be useful in clinical practices. However, some problems should be solved in the next version of KMAP-BP.