a) Methods and Procedures This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 8-week study in 60 outpatients with bipolar disorder types I, II, or NOS by DSM-IV criteria (13), whose overall bipolar illness is mild to moderately severe defined as a score of > 2 but < 5 on the CGI modified for bipolar illness [CGI-BP] (14), and who also have moderate-to-severe hypomania or mild mania, defined as a YMRS > 10 and < 21 at study entry. Subjects may have concurrent depressive or anxiety symptoms or syndromes, but they may not have psychotic features. The primary outcome measure will be change in manic symptoms as measured by the change in the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)(17). Secondary outcome measures will include the Inventory for Depressive Symptoms (IDS)(18), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A)(20), the Clinical Global Improvement Scale modified for Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BP), the (16) Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (DSD)(18).