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 .
Clonazepam in childhood anxiety disorders.
OBJECTIVE There is evidence for the efficacy and safety of clonazepam ( CZP ) in adult anxiety disorders , but no formal studies to substantiate clinical reports of similar benefit in children with anxiety disorders . METHOD In this double-blind pilot study , 15 children , aged 7 to 13 years , entered a r and omly assigned , double-blind crossover trial of 4 weeks of CZP ( up to 2 mg/day ) and 4 weeks of placebo . RESULTS Twelve children completed the trial . All but 1 had a diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder , and all but 2 had comorbid diagnoses . Nine children appeared to have moderate to significant clinical improvement , but statistical comparisons on several ratings failed to confirm a trend in favor of CZP . Side effects of drowsiness , irritability , and /or oppositional behavior were notable in 10 children in the CZP phase compared with 5 in the placebo phase . CONCLUSIONS Clonazepam was believed to have clinical benefit for some children , but this was not confirmed statistically in this small sample . Problematic side effects of drowsiness and disinhibition were common and possibly were due to rapid titration
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 .