In several small , single-site RCTs , valproate and sulthiame were better than placebo for the management of recurrent aggression .
Conclusions : Currently available RCTs do not support the efficacy of anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers in children .
There is some preliminary evidence from small RCTs of the efficacy of some anticonvulsants in the control of aggression and behavioral dyscontrol in conduct disorder , autism , and intellectual disability
Aim : Anticonvulsant medications are frequently used in clinical practice to treat psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents , but the evidence for their efficacy is uncertain .
We conducted a systematic review of published r and omized controlled trials ( RCT ) that assessed the psychiatric benefit of anticonvulsants  in patients under 18 years of age .
Adjunctive divalproex versus placebo for children with ADHD and aggression refractory to stimulant monotherapy.
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of divalproex for reducing aggressive behavior among children 6 to 13 years old with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) and a disruptive disorder whose chronic aggression was underresponsive to a prospect i ve psychostimulant trial . METHOD Children received open stimulant treatment during a lead-in phase that averaged 5 weeks . Agent and dose were assessed weekly and modified to optimize response . Children whose aggressive behavior persisted at the conclusion of the lead-in phase were r and omly assigned to receive double-blind , flexibly dosed divalproex or a placebo adjunctive to stimulant for 8 weeks . Families received weekly behavioral therapy throughout the trial . The primary outcome measure was the proportion of children whose aggressive behavior remitted , defined by post-trial ratings of negligible or absent aggression . RESULT A significantly higher proportion of children r and omly assigned to divalproex  met remission criteria ( eight out of 14 [ 57 % ] ) than those r and omly assigned to placebo ( two out of 13 [ 15 % ] ) . Divalproex was generally well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS Among children with ADHD whose chronic aggressive behavior is refractory to optimized stimulant treatment , the addition of divalproex increases the likelihood that aggression will remit . A larger trial is necessary to specify with greater precision the magnitude of benefit for adjuvant divalproex
In several small , single-site RCTs , valproate and sulthiame were better than placebo for the management of recurrent aggression .
Conclusions : Currently available RCTs do not support the efficacy of anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers in children .
There is some preliminary evidence from small RCTs of the efficacy of some anticonvulsants in the control of aggression and behavioral dyscontrol in conduct disorder , autism , and intellectual disability
Aim : Anticonvulsant medications are frequently used in clinical practice to treat psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents , but the evidence for their efficacy is uncertain .
We conducted a systematic review of published r and omized controlled trials ( RCT ) that assessed the psychiatric benefit of anticonvulsants  in patients under 18 years of age .