Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2026, Sixth Revision: An Executive Summary
12 affiliations
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea
- 2Woo and Bahk Psychiatry Clinic, Seoul, Korea
- 3Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea
- 4Department of Psychiatry, Naju National Hospital, Naju, Korea
- 5Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Keyo Hospital, Uiwang, Korea
- 7Department of Psychiatry, Gwangmyeong Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Gwangmyeong, Korea
- 8Department of Psychiatry, Wonkwang University Hospital, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea
- 9Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea
- 10Department of Psychiatry, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- 11Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 12Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
Objective: The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) provides expert consensus-based pharmacotherapy recommendations tailored to Korean clinical practice and healthcare settings. This sixth revision, the KMAP-BP 2026, was developed to incorporate recent evidence and evolving expert opinion since the previous edition.
Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to a review committee of psychiatric experts across Korea. Survey responses were analyzed and subsequently refined through expert hearings to establish consensus recommendations across the major phases of bipolar disorder.
Results: For acute mania, mood stabilizer (MS) + atypical antipsychotics (AAP) combination was designated as the treatment of choice (TOC) when psychotic features were present, while MS + AAP, MS monotherapy, or AAP monotherapy were all first-line options in their absence. For depressive episodes, MS, lamotrigine (LMT), or AAP monotherapy and combinations including MS + AAP, AAP + LMT, and MS + LMT were recommended as first-line strategies for mild-to-moderate severity; notably, AAP monotherapy was elevated to first-line for severe depression, and MS + AAP was the TOC when psychotic features were present. For mixed features, MS + AAP was the TOC for manic-predominant and mixed features without predominance, while depressive-predominant mixed features allowed for a broader first-line armamentarium.
Conclusion: The KMAP-BP 2026 reflects both the evolving landscape of psychiatric practice in Korea and the accumulation of recent pharmacotherapy evidence, reflecting both continuity and refinement of prior recommendations. These updated recommendations are intended to serve as a practical, evidence-informed resource for clinicians navigating the complexities of bipolar disorder management.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026korean,
title = {{Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2026, Sixth Revision: An Executive Summary}},
author = {Hyun-Ju Yang and Young Sup Woo and Won-Myong Bahk and Jong-Hyun Jeong and Bo-Hyun Yoon and Won Kim and Sung-Yong Park and Jeong Seok Seo and Chan-Mo Yang and Sung-Hoon Yoon and Vin Ryu and Duk-In Jon and Nak-Young Kim and Won-Seok Choi and MoonSoo Lee and Young-Eun Jung and Moon-Doo Kim},
journal = {Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.9758/cpn.26.1490},
url = {https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1490},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2026, Sixth Revision: An Executive Summary
AU - Hyun-Ju Yang
AU - Young Sup Woo
AU - Won-Myong Bahk
AU - Jong-Hyun Jeong
AU - Bo-Hyun Yoon
AU - Won Kim
AU - Sung-Yong Park
AU - Jeong Seok Seo
AU - Chan-Mo Yang
AU - Sung-Hoon Yoon
AU - Vin Ryu
AU - Duk-In Jon
AU - Nak-Young Kim
AU - Won-Seok Choi
AU - MoonSoo Lee
AU - Young-Eun Jung
AU - Moon-Doo Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
JO - Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
DO - 10.9758/cpn.26.1490
UR - https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1490
AB - Objective: The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) provides expert consensus-based pharmacotherapy recommendations tailored to Korean clinical practice and healthcare settings. This sixth revision, the KMAP-BP 2026, was developed to incorporate recent evidence and evolving expert opinion since the previous edition. Methods: A structured questionnaire was distributed to a review committee of psychiatric experts across Korea. Survey responses were analyzed and subsequently refined through expert hearings to establish consensus recommendations across the major phases of bipolar disorder. Results: For acute mania, mood stabilizer (MS) + atypical antipsychotics (AAP) combination was designated as the treatment of choice (TOC) when psychotic features were present, while MS + AAP, MS monotherapy, or AAP monotherapy were all first-line options in their absence. For depressive episodes, MS, lamotrigine (LMT), or AAP monotherapy and combinations including MS + AAP, AAP + LMT, and MS + LMT were recommended as first-line strategies for mild-to-moderate severity; notably, AAP monotherapy was elevated to first-line for severe depression, and MS + AAP was the TOC when psychotic features were present. For mixed features, MS + AAP was the TOC for manic-predominant and mixed features without predominance, while depressive-predominant mixed features allowed for a broader first-line armamentarium. Conclusion: The KMAP-BP 2026 reflects both the evolving landscape of psychiatric practice in Korea and the accumulation of recent pharmacotherapy evidence, reflecting both continuity and refinement of prior recommendations. These updated recommendations are intended to serve as a practical, evidence-informed resource for clinicians navigating the complexities of bipolar disorder management.
SN - 1738-1088
SN - 2093-4327
ER -