Divalproex treatment for youth with explosive temper and mood lability: a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The authors sought to replicate open-label findings showing that specific criteria for explosive temper and mood lability identify disruptive youth who improve while receiving the anticonvulsant divalproex sodium.

METHOD:

Twenty outpatient children and adolescents (ages 10-18) with a disruptive behavior disorder (oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder) met the specific criteria for explosive temper and mood lability. They received 6 weeks of divalproex treatment and 6 weeks of placebo by random assignment. Independent evaluators blind to group assignment assessed response at the end of each phase.

RESULTS:

At the end of phase 1, eight of 10 subjects had responded to divalproex; zero of 10 had responded to placebo. Of the 15 subjects who completed both phases, 12 has superior response taking divalproex.

CONCLUSIONS:

This preliminary study replicates open-label findings showing that divalproex is an efficacious treatment for explosive temper and mood lability in disruptive children and adolescents.

• Authors: S J Donovan, J W Stewart, E V Nunes, F M Quitkin, M Parides, W Daniel, E Susser, D F Klein
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 157 Issue 5 Pg. 818-20 (May 2000) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 10784478 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Placebos
• Valproic Acid

Topics

• Adolescent
• Ambulatory Care
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Child
• Comorbidity
• Cross-Over Studies
• Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mood Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Placebos
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales (statistics & numerical data)
• Treatment Outcome
• Valproic Acid (therapeutic use)