Yonsei University researchers identify medication tapering limits for bipolar disorder

A research team from Yonsei University College of Medicine has identified specific thresholds for reducing medication in patients with bipolar disorder to minimize the risk of rehospitalization. The study, published in the journal ‘Molecular Psychiatry’, utilized big data from approximately 20,000 patients from the National Health Insurance Service.

The findings indicate that reducing mood stabilizer dosages by more than 20% or antipsychotic medication by more than 50% compared to acute phase levels significantly increases the risk of rehospitalization. Even when symptoms have remained stable for over three years, the researchers emphasized that cautious medication adjustment is necessary to prevent relapse.

This interdisciplinary study combines psychiatry, preventive medicine, and psychiatric epidemiology to provide clinical guidelines. Researchers expect these findings to assist in developing personalized treatment strategies by evaluating the necessary maintenance dosage for individual patients based on their acute phase requirements.