Lithium in hospitalized aggressive children with conduct disorder: a double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess critically the efficacy and safety of lithium and replicate earlier findings in a larger sample of aggressive children with conduct disorder and to assess the utility of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) in this population.

METHODS:

Children hospitalized for treatment-refractory severe aggressiveness and explosiveness and with diagnosed conduct disorder were subjects in this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. After a 2-week placebo baseline period, children were randomly assigned to lithium or placebo treatment for 6 weeks of placebo. The main outcome measures were the Global Clinical Judgments (Consensus) Scale, Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale, Conners Teacher Questionnaire, Parent-Teacher Questionnaire, and the POMS.

RESULTS:

Fifty children (mean age 9.4 years) completed this study. The mean optimal daily dose of lithium was 1,248 mg and the mean serum level was 1.12 mEq/L. Lithium was superior to placebo, although the effects on some measures were more modest than in a previous study.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lithium appears to be an effective treatment for some severely aggressive children with conduct disorder. Although the POMS appeared to be reliable, it did not detect any response to lithium.

• Authors: M Campbell, P B Adams, A M Small, V Kafantaris, R R Silva, J Shell, R Perry, J E Overall
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry) Vol. 34 Issue 4 Pg. 445-53 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0890-8567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7751258 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Lithium Carbonate

Topics

• Aggression (drug effects, psychology)
• Child
• Child Behavior Disorders (drug therapy, psychology)
• Child, Preschool
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Lithium Carbonate (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Male
• Patient Admission
• Personality Assessment
• Treatment Outcome