Strengths:

Well-documented efficacy in acute mania

• Significantly more aripiprazole-treated patients responded to and continued with treatment than haloperidol-treated patients. [ICG Guidelines]
• Following remission of an initial episode of mania, patients should be withdrawn from their benzodiazepine or antipsychotic once the acute episode has resolved. [Australian Guidelines]

Weaknesses:

Limited data available in bipolar maintenance

• Following remission of an initial episode of mania, patients should be withdrawn from their benzodiazepine or antipsychotic once the acute episode has resolved. [Australian Guidelines]