Many guidelines for bipolar disorders have been introduced based on evidences. In contrast, KMAP-BP was developed by an expert-consensus.

To summarize the medication strategies for bipolar depression over four published KMAP-BP (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014).

The questionnaire using a nine-point scale had covered some clinical situations with many treatment options about the appropriateness of treatment.

For mild-to-moderate depression, antidepressant (AD) + mood stabilizer (MS) in early editions and MS or lamotrigine monotherapy and AAP + (MS or lamotrigine) in later editions were preferred strategies. For severe nonpsychotic depression, MS + AD was the only first-line medication in early editions. In 2014, various medications [MS + AAP (atypical antipsychotic), AAP + lamotrigine, MS + AD] were preferred. Valproate and lithium has been rated as first-line MS in all editions. Lamotrigine were positively preferred later. Adjunctive AD was accepted as first-line strategy for severe depression in all editions. Preference of AAP also has been increased remarkably. Adjunctive AAP was not first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate depression in all editions, but was for nonpsychotic depression in 2010 and 2014 and for psychotic depression in all editions. Recommended AAPs have been changed over 12 years: olanzapine and risperidone in 2002 and quetiapine, aripiprazole, and olanzapine in 2014 were first-line AAP.

There have been evident preference changes: increased for AAP and lamotrigine and decreased for AD. The high preferences for aripiprazole and lamotrigine in later editions were likely derived from favorable tolerability.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.