Antidepressant-Associated Mania and Psychosis Resulting in Psychiatric Admissions

Background: The safety and tolerability of theselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the newer atypicalagents have led to a significant increase in antidepressant use.These changes raise concern as to the likelihood of acorresponding increase in adverse behavioral reactionsattributable to these drugs.

Method: All admissions to a university-basedgeneral hospital psychiatric unit during a 14-month period werereviewed.

Results: Forty-three (8.1%) of 533 patients werefound to have been admitted owing to antidepressant-associatedmania or psychosis.

Conclusion: Despite the positive changes in theside effect profile of antidepressant drugs, the rate ofadmissions due to antidepressant-associated adverse behavioraleffects remains significant.