Bipolar disorder patients, who comprise 1%-4% of the population, suffer from chronic mood swings that alternate between "manic" episodes, characterized by inflated energy, self-esteem, and risky behavior, and depression, which can take a suicidal turn.

A new Tel Aviv University study finds that antidepressant therapy minimizes the incidence of re-hospitalization from bipolar depression.

"This study provides hope for bipolar disorder patients by supporting the efficacy and safety of antidepressant therapy use for bipolar depression, which has always been considered a 'treatment-resistant' disabling state," says Dr. Eldar Hochman of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Geha Mental Health Center, who led the research for the study. It was published in European Neuropsychopharmacology.

"Our study suggests that adding antidepressant therapy to mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics after hospitalization for bipolar depression can prevent re-hospitalization in the short- and long-term. Adding the antidepressant therapy doesn't increase the risk of manic episodes," Dr. Hochman says.