TY - JOUR T1 - Adverse events associated with mood stabiliser treatment should be continuously monitored in patients diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med DO - 10.1136/ebmed-2016-110629 SP - ebmed-2016-110629 AU - R E Nielsen AU - R W Licht Y1 - 2017/03/02 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2017/03/02/ebmed-2016-110629.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Hayes JF, Marston L, Walters K, et al. Adverse Renal, Endocrine, Hepatic, and Metabolic Events during Maintenance Mood Stabilizer Treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A Population-Based Cohort Study. PLoS Med 2016;13(8):e1002058.OpenUrlBipolar disorder is most often severe and recurrent, requiring pharmacological maintenance treatment in combination with psychoeducation and/or other interventions.1 Evidence for the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological treatment is primarily based on randomised controlled trials (RCTs). However, RCTs are usually characterised by a relatively short duration of follow-up and by relatively small sample sizes. Therefore, for detecting and evaluating rare and long-term side effects, large observational cohort studies have been conducted. Even though selection bias and confounding cannot be avoided in non-randomised studies, various approaches in terms of design and analysis are available for balancing the comparative groups and/or for confounder control, for example, case–control design, use of propensity score models or use of multivariate regression analysis.A study population of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder in The Health Improvement Network database receiving at least one 28-day prescription of lithium, valproate, … ER -