In this article, we highlight recent Bipolar Collaborative Network data. We found that childhood-onset bipolar illness is
common, often goes untreated for more than a decade, and carries a poor prognosis. During randomized studies of adjunctive
medications in depression: 1) Venlafaxine showed higher switch rates than bupropion or sertraline; 2) Tranylcypromine was
as well tolerated as lamotrigine; and 3) Modafinil was more effective than placebo. Finally, in treatment of overweight and
obesity, topiramate and sibutramine showed equal efficacy but poor tolerability, and zonisamide data showed that it may be
useful for mood and weight loss.