Related Experiment Videos
Long-term outcome with divalproex in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder
Charles A Henry1, Linda S Zamvil, Christopher Lam
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Objective:
To assess the outcome and safety of divalproex treatment in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.
Methods:
We conducted a chart review of children and adolescents who were treated with divalproex and who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, criteria for bipolar disorder (dose 966 +/- 501 mg/day, level 79.4 +/- 23.1 micro g/mL, duration 1.4 +/- 1.5 years). Responders were defined as those showing moderate to marked response on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale.
Results:
Eight of 15 (53%) patients responded to divalproex treatment for mixed episode (n = 6), disruptive behavior (n = 4), pure mania (n = 3), or depression (n = 2). Six of 15 (40%) discontinued divalproex, most due to side effects (n = 5). The most common side effect was weight gain (4/15, 27%).
Conclusion:
In children aged 4-18 years, divalproex treatment was related to improved outcome in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder. One third of the patients discontinued treatment secondary to side effects, including a case of reversible liver enzyme elevation.
Related Concept Videos
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
Long-term Depression
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...