Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2008 Dec;19(6):334-340.

Efficacy of Quetiapine in Patients with Bipolar Depression: A Multi-Center, Prospective, Open-label, Observational Study(The QUEEN Study)

• Jeong JH
• Bahk WM
• Woo YS
• Seo HJ
• Jon DI
• Cho HS
• Yoo SY
• Min KJ
• Yoon BH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Bipolar depression has a disabling course and its treatment represents a major challenge. Recently, a randomized, controlled trial of quetiapine monotherapy in patients with bipolar depression showed significant reductions in depressive symptomatology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of quetiapine in bipolar depression in the clinical setting.
METHODS
This study was a multi-center, prospective, open-label, observational, 8-week evaluation of the efficacy of quetiapine in patients with bipolar depression. Patients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of bipolar depression (bipolar I disorder, most recent episode depressed and bipolar II disorder, most recent episode depressed) were included and treated with quetiapine. The dose of quetiapine was flexible and concomitant mediations were permitted, by clinical judgment. Clinical improvements were rated with the Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar version (CGI-BP) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at baseline, week 4, and week 8.
RESULTS
A total of 1,193 patients were recruited and 46 (3.9%) patients were dropped from the study. The mean initial dose of quetiapine was 192.3+/-181.9 mg/day and the mean doses at weeks 4 and 8 were 315.2+/-229.7 mg/day and 337.1+/-229.9 mg/day, respectively. CGI-BP and MADRS were significantly improved at weeks 4 and 8, compared with baseline. In addition, improvements at week 8 were greater than at week 4. Subjectively, about 75% of the patients reported therapeutic compliance above 75% at weeks 4 and 8. Seven (0.6%) and four (0.3%) patients showed manic/hypomanic episodes at weeks 4 and 8, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that quetiapine improves depressive symptoms in bipolar depression, with minimal incidence of manic switching. We suggest that quetiapine could be an effective and safe option in treating bipolar depression.

Keyword

Bipolar depression; Quetiapine; Efficacy

MeSH Terms

Bipolar Disorder
Compliance
Depression
Dibenzothiazepines
Humans
Incidence
Judgment
Prospective Studies
Quetiapine Fumarate
Dibenzothiazepines