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 .
Treatment of Early-Age Mania: Outcomes for Partial and Nonresponders to Initial Treatment.
OBJECTIVE The Treatment of Early Age Mania ( TEAM ) study evaluated lithium , risperidone , and divalproex sodium ( divalproex ) in children with bipolar I disorder who were naive to antimanic medication , or were partial or nonresponders to 1 of 3 study medications . This report evaluates the benefit of either an add-on or a switch of antimanic medications for an 8-week trial period in partial responders and nonresponders , respectively . METHOD TEAM is a r and omized , controlled trial of individuals ( N = 379 ) aged 6 to 15 years ( mean ± SD = 10.2 ± 2.7 years ) with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder ( mixed or manic phase ) . Participants ( n = 154 ) in this report were either nonresponders or partial responders to 1 of the 3 study medications . Nonresponders ( n = 89 ) were r and omly assigned to 1 of the other 2 antimanic medications and cross-tapered . Partial responders ( n = 65 ) were r and omly assigned to 1 of 2 other antimanic medications as an add-on to their initial medication . Adverse event ( AE ) rates are reported only for the add-on group . RESULTS Response rate for children switched to risperidone ( 47.6 % ) was higher than for those switched to either lithium ( 12.8 % ; p = .005 ; number needed to treat [ NNT ] = 3 ; 95 % CI = 1.71 - 9.09 ) or divalproex ( 17.2 % ; p = .03 ; NNT = 3 ; 95 % CI = 1.79 - 20.10 ) ; response rate for partial responders who added risperidone ( 53.3 % ) was higher than for those who added divalproex ( 0 % ; p = .0002 ; NNT = 2 ; 95 % CI = 1.27 - 3.56 ) and trended higher for lithium ( 26.7 % ; p = .07 ; NNT = 4 ) . Reported AEs in the add-on group were largely consistent with the known AE profile for the second medication . Weight gain ( kg ) was observed for all add-on medications : lithium add-on ( n = 29 of 30 ) = 1.66 ± 1.97 ; risperidone add-on ( n = 15 of 15 ) = 2.8 ± 1.34 ; divalproex add-on ( n = 19 of 20 ) = 1.42 ± 1.96 . There was no evidence at the 5 % significance level that the average weight gain was different by study medication for partial responders ( p = .07 , 1-way analysis of variance ) . CONCLUSION Risperidone appears to be more useful than lithium or divalproex for children with bipolar I disorder and other comorbid conditions who are nonresponders or partial responders to an initial antimanic medication trial . Clinical trial registration information- Study of Outcome and Safety of Lithium , Divalproex and Risperidone for Mania in Children and Adolescents ( TEAM ) ; http:// clinical trials.gov/ ; NCT00057681
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 .