Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24534121›Full record

ArticlePsychiatry research2014

Medication burden in bipolar disorder: a chart review of patients at psychiatric hospital admission.

Lauren M Weinstock, Brandon A Gaudiano, Gary Epstein-Lubow, Katherine Tezanos, Cintly E Celis-Dehoyos, Ivan W Miller

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Psychiatry research, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  9. Means to an end: Characteristics and follow-up of emergency department patients with a history of suicide attempt via medication overdose.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2025
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  12. Prescription Patterns for Bipolar Disorder in Asian Countries: Findings from Research on Asian Prescription Pattern-Bipolar Disorder.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lauren M WeinstockAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA. Electronic address: Lauren_Weinstock@Brown.edu.
Brandon A GaudianoAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA.
Gary Epstein-LubowAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA.
Katherine TezanosAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA.
Cintly E Celis-DehoyosAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA.
Ivan W MillerAlpert Medical School of Brown University and Butler Hospital, RI 02906, USA.

Funding

Adjunctive Behavior Therapy for Bipolar I DepressionK23MH079907 · NIMH · BROWN UNIVERSITY · PI WEINSTOCK, LAUREN M · 2008 to 2012
$880k
NIMH NIH HHS K23 MH079907NIMH NIH HHS K23MH079907
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) often receive complex polypharmacy regimens as part of treatment, yet few studies have sought to evaluate patient characteristics associated with this high medication burden. This retrospective chart review study examined rates of complex polypharmacy (i.e., ≥4 psychotropic medications), patterns of psychotropic medication use, and their demographic and clinical correlates in a naturalistic sample of adults with bipolar I disorder (BDI; N=230) presenting for psychiatric hospital admission. Using a computer algorithm, a hospital administrator extracted relevant demographic, clinical, and community treatment information for analysis. Patients reported taking an average of 3.31 (S.D.=1.46) psychotropic medications, and 5.94 (S.D.=3.78) total medications at intake. Overall, 82 (36%) met criteria for complex polypharmacy. Those receiving complex polypharmacy were significantly more likely to be female, to be depressed, to have a comorbid anxiety disorder, and to have a history of suicide attempt. Women were significantly more likely than men to be prescribed antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, even after controlling for mood episode polarity. Study data highlight the high medication burden experienced by patients with BD, especially those who are acutely symptomatic. Data also highlight the particularly high medication burden experienced by women with BD; a burden not fully accounted for by depression.

Indexed as

PolypharmacyAdolescentAdultAgedAnxietyBipolar DisorderCost of IllnessDepressionFemaleHospitalizationHospitals, PsychiatricHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychotropic DrugsRetrospective StudiesPsychotropic DrugsAntidepressantsBenzodiazepinesBipolar depressionDemographyMood stabilizersPolypharmacyPsychopharmacology

Identifiers

PMID24534121
PMCPMC3968952

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.