Today, you'll learn when to avoid Depakote, who to blame when your patient doesn't take their meds,

and which comes first, symptoms or functioning.

It's all in our updates from the 2023 International Bipolar Conference.

Welcome to the Carlet's Psychiatry, keeping psychiatrion honest since 2003.

I'm Chris Aiken, the editor-in-chief of the Carlat Psychiatry Report.

And I'm Kelly Newsom, a psychiatric MP and a dedicated reader of every issue.

Last June, we flew to Chicago for the International Bipolar Conference, and since then, we've been

counting off the practice changing updates from the conference. Here's a recap. One, screen for

bipolar disorder with a tool that looks at signs and symptoms of the illness, like the rapid

mood screener or the bipolarity index. Two, use more lithium.

And three, move lorazidone up in your treatment algorithms now that it's generic.

And keep Robert posts three Ls on the tip of your tongue for bipolar depression, lithium,

lemotrogen and lorazidone.

Today, we're a Chuck full of updates.

The first, a preview of the CME quiz for this episode.

You can earn CME credits through the link in the show notes.

One, mood charting is helpful in bipolar disorder, but it is essential for monitoring which phase of the illness.

A, depression, B, mania, hypomania and mixed states. C, maintenance. D, rapid cycling.

And now for update number four.

Avoid Valproate in women of childbearing age.

Valproate, Deppercode, entered the bipolar field in the 1990s, and it came with all the swag that branded medications bring, overhyping its benefits and downplaying its risks.

Now, we see this med with a more sober eye.

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