Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by the episodi
c fluctuation of mood between mania or hypomania and. depression. It a
fflicts nearly 1% of the US population and is associated with signific
ant disruption of interpersonal relationships, loss of occupational st
atus, and suicide. Psychopharmacologic agents have significantly decre
ased the morbidity and mortality associated with the disorder. In this
article, the agents most commonly used for mood stabilization are dis
cussed, addressing efficacy, side effect profiles, drug interactions,
dosing, and administration. Adjunctive agents used for stabilization d
uring the acute phases of the illness are reviewed, and new and novel
agents that have shown promise in open clinical trials or case studies
are identified.