New Seroquel data support benefits in bipolar disorder

New data presented today at the American Psychiatry Association (APA) meeting in Atlanta, USA, demonstrate that the
atypical antipsychotic SEROQUEL (Quetiapine) is effective in reducing suicidal thinking in patients suffering from bipolar
depression, and also improves quality of life and adherence to treatment in patients with bipolar disorder.


"Unfortunately bipolar depression is associated with high suicide rates, with 25% to 50% of people with the illness
attempting suicide " commented Professor Joseph Calabrese, Co-Director of the Bipolar Research Center at University Hospitals
of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. "These data suggest a brighter future for patients with
bipolar disorder as they illustrate that those treated with SEROQUEL benefit from a strong efficacy profile, combined with
improved compliance and quality of life - three factors in antipsychotic treatment that are intrinsically linked. The fact
that this strong efficacy profile includes an ability to reduce suicidal thinking is a significant benefit and is encouraging
news for clinicians who are striving to deliver meaningful results for their patients."


Reducing suicidal thinking key to reducing high suicide rates: These data, from the BOLDER (BipOLar DEpRession) trial1, an
eight week, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 542 patients with a diagnosis of
bipolar I or II disorder, showed that SEROQUEL (600 and 300 mg/day) is approximately twice as effective in reducing suicidal
ideation by week eight as placebo. The results were analysed using standard clinical scales to assess improvements in
depressive and anxiety symptoms. Additional results from the BOLDER study showed:


-- SEROQUEL (600 and 300 mg/day) significantly improved the core symptoms of depression as early as week one onwards
(symptoms include apparent sadness, reported sadness, inability to feel, suicidal thoughts, and pessimistic thoughts)



-- A significant improvement in anxiety symptoms occurred as early as week one and was maintained to study end (P







Improving quality of life and treatment adherence:


Bipolar depression is also associated with a significant impairment on patients' quality of life. Further new data from the
BOLDER trial2 presented at the APA meeting demonstrate a significant improvement in quality of life for patients with bipolar
depression who are treated with SEROQUEL (600 and 300 mg/day). Results were analysed using a 16-item questionnaire that
measures differences in the degree of enjoyment and satisfaction among groups of patients, as well as changes over time in a
single patient. Results showed:


-- SEROQUEL is effective in improving quality of life as demonstrated by the improvement in Q-LES-Q SF score which was
significantly greater in both SEROQUEL treatment groups (11.7 in the 600 mg/day group and 10.8 in the 300 mg/day group at
final assessment) than in the placebo group (6.4, p