TREATMENT GUIDELINE FOR BIPOLAR MOOD DISORDER (BMD)
	INTRAVENOUS THERAPY
	LEVEL 1
	LEVEL 2
	LEVEL 3
	LEVEL 4
	GO TO ALGORITHM BMD MANAGEMENT
	INDICATION FOR INTRAVENOUS TREATMENT IN PSYCHIATRY ONLY FOR EMERGENCY SEDATION OR INITIATION OF INTRAVENOUS ANTIMANIC THERAPY OR ANTIPSYCHOTIC THERAPY
	INTRAVENOUS ANTIDEPRESSANT TREATMENT ONLY IF PATIENT UNABLE TO TOLERATE ORAL TREATMENT
	INTRAVENOUS TREATMENT INDICATED FOR CO-MORBID MEDICAL CONDITIONS
	"SLEEP THERAPY" IS UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
	MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT, 2002 (ACT NO. 17 OF 2002); GENERAL REGULATIONS
	CHAPTER 5: SURGICAL PROCEDURES, MEDICAL OR THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT
	36. Sleep therapy
	The prescription of neuroleptics, benzodiazopines andlor intravenous antidepressants at doses and durations sufficient to cause significant sedation for several days is not permitted.
	MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS BOARD OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA
	HANDBOOK OF ETHICAL RULINGS (REVISED SECOND EDITION); PRETORIA; JUN 2002
	23.2.31 Medical practitioner performing sleep therapy
	At the request by the Department of Health to prepare and release guidelines on the performance of sleep therapy by practitioners, the Executive Committee of the Medical and Dental Professions Board resolved that –
	the letter by the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa as published in the South African Medical Journal (Vol 87, No. 12, December 1997) be endorsed;
	the following statement by Council regarding sleep therapy be confirmed:
	“Intravenous antidepressants were viewed as high-risk treatment.  It belonged in the domain of psychiatrists and then only in specific circumstances.  Recommendations for the use thereof were to be clearly circumscribed.
	“There was no place for the routine use of intravenous antidepressants.
	“A place for the use of parenteral antidepressants was seen in rare, specific and exceptional cases.
	“In situations where that form of treatment was exercised by a practitioner, it must be accompanied by adequate motivation;”
	the above statement was to serve as a guideline.