Efficacy of lurasidone in adults with bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of its impact on depressive symptoms and disability

Bipolar depression (BDD) is the predominant polarity in bipolar disorder type I, and poses challenges for diagnosis, treatment, and associated disability. Over the last 20 years, the FDA has approved new drugs for BDD, including lurasidone. This study summarizes the literature on lurasidone's efficacy in treating BDD, with a focus on depressive symptoms and disability. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), following PRISMA reporting guidelines. Our findings demonstrate that lurasidone reduces depressive symptom in adults with bipolar depression - as assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MD -3.05 [95 % CI, −4.48 to −1.62]) and the Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar Scale (MD -0.42 [−0.60 to −0.25]) - and improves associated disability - as measured by the Sheehan Disability Scale (MD -1.92 [−3.29 to −0.55]). While these results are promising, further RCTs are needed to confirm lurasidone's efficacy and assess its role in long-term therapeutic strategies.