Pharmacological management of mania

In the management of mania, pharmacological treatment plays a key part in any comprehensive package of care. The pharmacological management of mania is a skill essential to the practice of acute general psychiatry.

Over recent years, new agents have joined the armoury of anti-manic treatments and the evidence base for these treatments is increasing. Updated guidelines for evidence-based treatments for mania have been published; however, the management of treatment-resistant mania remains challenging and is informed by few studies.

This module summarises current thinking on the neural mechanisms of mania and the current view of best practice in its pharmacological management, focusing particularly on recently published guidelines from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. 

• The assessment of mania and its context will be discussed.

• A very brief overview of the neurophysiology of mood regulation and the role of anti-manic agents will follow.

• Thereafter, the recent British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for the management of mania and maintenance treatment will be outlined. Strategies for treatment resistant mania will also be discussed.

Start the module