Prescription pattern of mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder at a tertiary health care centre in north India

BACKGROUND: Mood stabilizers are drugs used to steady/balance the mood, and are also used to manage symptoms of aggression and impulsivity. There is disparity in prescription pattern across the globe. AIM: The aim of this study was to observe prescription pattern of mood stabilizers for the treatment of bipolar disorder with or without psychotic symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 100 adult patients was selected to participate in the study. First 5 patients of bipolar disorder with or without psychotic symptoms from twenty out-patient departments of various consultant psychiatrists of Department of Psychiatry (C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow) were included in the sample. A written informed consent was obtained and survey method was adopted to conduct the study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Lithium was found to be the most frequently prescribed mood stabilizer, sodium valproate ranked second while carbamazepine was least frequently prescribed.