OBJECTIVE: We compared the one-year rehospitalization rates of first-episode bipolar manic patients who were discharged while being treated with atypical antipsychotics in combination with mood stabilizers. METHODS: We monitored the rehospitalization status of the first-episode bipolar manic patients who were discharged between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2008 while they were taking risperidone (n=34), olanzapine (n=26) or quetiapine (n=32) in combination with mood stabilizers. Rehospitalizations were tracked over a 1-year period using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model was used to analyze covariates thought to affect time to rehospitalization. RESULTS: The rehospitalization rates during the 1-year follow-up period for patients taking atypical antipsychotics plus mood stabilizers were 22.8% (n=21). There were no significant differences in rehospitalization estimated using the Kaplan-Meier formula among the patients treated with risperidone (29.4%), olanzapine (23.1%) or quetiapine (15.6%). The psychotic symptoms, previous depressive episodes, lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score at discharge and less length of first hospitalization contributed to the risk of rehospitalization. CONCLUSION: The 1-year rehospitalization rates of first-episode bipolar manic patients taking risperidone, olanzapine, or quetiapine do not differ and the psychotic symptoms and previous depressive episodes affect time to rehospitalization.