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Mood stabilizer

A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication used in the treatment mood disorders characterised by rapid and unstable mood shifts. These disorders include Borderline Personality Disorder, and bipolar disorder where they suppress swings between mania and depression. Most mood stabilizers are anticonvulsants.

Mood stabilizers include:

Many antipsychotics also have mood stabilizing effects and are thus commonly prescribed even when psychotic symptoms are absent.

It is also conjectured that Omega-3 fatty acids may have a mood stabilizing effect. However, more research is needed to verify this (a multi-year study of this is now being carried out as of 2001).

References

  • Manic-Depressive Illness by Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay Redfield Jamison.
Last updated: 10-11-2005 16:55:44
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