What is the best choice of maintenance therapy after stabilizing a woman with acute mania?

The most effective maintenance therapy for a woman who has been stabilized after an acute manic episode typically involves the use of a mood stabilizer or atypical antipsychotic alongside psychotherapy.

In this case, combining psychotherapy with quetiapine, which is an atypical antipsychotic, is a well-supported strategy. Quetiapine has been shown to help maintain mood stability and can effectively manage the symptoms of mania while also providing therapeutic benefits for mood disorders. Furthermore, quetiapine is particularly beneficial for patients who may have a history of bipolar disorder, as it not only helps treat manic episodes but also offers some efficacy in preventing depressive episodes, making it a suitable option for long-term maintenance therapy.

While lithium and valproate are also commonly used mood stabilizers with a solid track record in treating bipolar disorder, the specific dosing choices in those options here may not align optimally with typical treatment practices or necessitate careful monitoring due to potential side effects. Psychotherapy alone is generally inadequate as a standalone treatment for bipolar disorder maintenance, particularly after a manic episode, as it does not provide the necessary pharmacologic support to maintain mood stability.

Thus, the combination of psychotherapy and quetiapine represents a comprehensive approach that addresses both the