Background: The efficacy of depot antipsychotic drugs in the prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder was investigated.
Method: Life charts were constructed for 18 outpatients with bipolar disorder receiving prophylactic treatment with depot medication. The durations of affective episodes were compared during periods on or off medication.
Results: The subjects suffered fewer relapses and spent significantly less time in hospital (P = 0.001) for treatment of manic, depressive and mixed affective illness during treatment with depot antipsychotics.
Conclusions: Depot antipsychotic medication may be a useful prophylactic treatment for certain patients with bipolar affective disorder.