A patient with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is not responding to lithium therapy.At the next multidisciplinary team meeting, the nurse should point out that many rapid-cycling patients have been effectively treated using what medication?

Question

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Divalproex has been shown to be effective in treating rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Sertraline is an antidepressant and can potentially worsen manic symptoms, phenytoin is an anticonvulsant that is not commonly used to treat bipolar disorder, and benztropine is an anticholinergic agent used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic medication.

A Patient with Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder Is Not Responding to Lithium