Divalproex sodium for impulsive aggressive behavior in patients with personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Divalproex sodium, an anticonvulsant, shows antiaggressive effects.
• Impulsive aggression is common in various personality disorders.
• Previous treatments, including SSRIs, were ineffective for these patients.

Observation:

• An 8-week open-label trial was conducted on 10 patients with personality disorders.
• Patients received divalproex sodium, with flexible dosing.
• The modified Overt Aggression Scale (OAS-M) assessed irritability and aggression bi-weekly.

Findings:

• Six of eight completers showed significant reductions in irritability (p = .003) and aggression (p = .019).
• Improvements were observed by week 4 and sustained through week 8.
• Divalproex sodium demonstrated efficacy in reducing aggressive behaviors.

Implications:

• Divalproex sodium may be an effective treatment for impulsive aggression in personality disorder patients unresponsive to SSRIs.
• Further controlled studies are necessary to identify optimal patient candidates.
• Comparative effectiveness of divalproex sodium versus other agents requires investigation.