The atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone [Geodon] is effective in the treatment of acute mania in patients with bipolar disorder, according to studies presented at the 16th European Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) [Prague, Czech Republic; September 2003]. Ziprasidone was effective as monotherapy for patients experiencing a manic or mixed episode, with significant improvements in symptoms and global severity of illness, compared with placebo. In a separate study, ziprasidone produced greater rates of change in mania and other symptoms than placebo in patients receiving concomitant treatment with lithium. These results suggested that the use of ziprasidone as adjunctive therapy may expedite the onset of clinical improvement, compared with lithium monotherapy.