PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE ED - , TI - Drug treatments for bipolar disorder: 1 - Acute manic or depressive AID - 10.1136/dtb.2005.43428 DP - 2005 Apr 01 TA - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin PG - 28--32 VI - 43 IP - 4 4099 - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/43/4/28.short 4100 - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/43/4/28.full SO - Drug Ther Bull2005 Apr 01; 43 AB - Relevant BNF sections: 4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.3Bipolar disorder is a severe, chronic mental illness characterised by repeated episodes of mania or hypomania, depression or mixed affective states.1 Depending on the clinical context, treatment may involve drugs, psychological therapies, social interventions and/or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).2,3 Here we concentrate on the role of drug treatments for acute manic or depressive episodes in adults with bipolar disorder. A second article will consider their role as maintenance and preventive therapy, and in special situations such as pregnancy.