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 .
An open-label trial of divalproex in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of divalproex sodium ( Depakote ) in the treatment of youths with bipolar disorder . METHOD Forty bipolar disorder patients aged 7 to 19 years , with a manic , hypomanic , or mixed episode , enrolled in an open-label study of  divalproex ( 2 - 8 weeks ) , followed by a double-blind , placebo-controlled period ( 8 weeks ) . RESULTS Twenty-two subjects ( 61 % ) showed > or = 50 % improvement in Mania Rating Scale ( MRS ) scores during the open-label period . Significant ( < .001 ) improvements from baseline were seen for mean scores of all efficacy measures , including the MRS , Manic Syndrome Scale , Behavior and Ideation Scale , Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale , Clinical Global Impressions Severity scale , and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression . Of the 23 subjects who discontinued the study during the open-label period , 6 ( 15 % ) discontinued for ineffectiveness , 6 ( 15 % ) for intolerance , 6 ( 15 % ) for noncompliance , and 6 ( 15 % ) for other reasons . Adverse events were generally mild or moderate in severity , with the most common being headache , nausea , vomiting , diarrhea , and somnolence . Laboratory data results were unremarkable . Too few subjects participated in the double-blind period for statistical analysis . CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary support for the safety and effectiveness of divalproex in the treatment of bipolar disorder in youths
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 .