TREATMENT INDUCED OR MAINTAINED MOOD DYSFUNCTION

Medications or substances that induce or maintain a mood disorder should be reduced or stopped in order to achieve effective control of the treatment of the disorder. TCAs, MAOIs, SSRIs, inadequate number of ECTs, sleep deprivation, Nicotine, Caffeine, and Risperidone have all been associated with this phenomenon. There is a continuing debate about whether antidepressant induced hypomania and mania is simply a transient adverse effect purely related to the medication or an unmasking of and a pointer towards underlying bipolar disorder.

Typical neuroleptics can provoke or maintain depression. Abrupt cessation of psychotropic medications can induce rapid cycling, so these medications, if associated with causing or maintaining a mood disorder, should be tapered down gradually before being stopped if indicated.