Quetiapine in acute mania: a case report (with a six-month follow-up)

Quetiapine is an effective and well-tolerated antipsychotic. To date, experience with quetiapine in bipolar disorders is very limited and information on the use in acute patients is lacking. A patient with a DSMIV diagnosis of acute mania intolerant to lithium and to neuroleptics was treated with quetiapine. The daily dosage of quetiapine was gradually titrated up to 600 mg t.i.d. Quetiapine was effective, as evidenced by rating scale scores of the BPRS, YMRS and CGI, which dropped by 91% and 94% respectively from baseline (devoid of relevant side-effects). Quetiapine seems to be a promising agent for the treatment of manic episodes in bipolar disorders, although controlled trials are needed.