Chapter 5.Mood Stabilizers

The term mood stabilizer was first reported in relation to lithium salts when it became clear that they were effective not only in alleviating mania but also as a prophylaxis against both manic and depressive cycles. Since the introduction of lithium to the United States in 1969 there have been very few drugs approved as overall “mood stabilizers.” However, in more recent years drugs such as lamotrigine, olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole have been approved for the prevention of mania and depression in bipolar disorder. In addition, many medications have been approved for the acute treatment of mania, and the first drugs for the acute treatment of bipolar depression have now also been approved. It is somewhat less clear that any of the anticonvulsants currently used in treating bipolar affective disorder are as deserving of the term mood stabilizer as is lithium. However, the second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) with clear benefits in the acute treatment and prevention of both mania and depression do appear deserving of such designation.