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 .
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of divalproex extended-release in the treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of divalproex extended-release ( ER ) to placebo in a 28-day double-blind study of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents and evaluate the safety of divalproex ER in a 6-month open-label extension study . METHOD In the double-blind study , 150 patients ( manic or mixed episode , aged 10 - 17 years ) with baseline Young Mania Rating Scale ( YMRS ) score of 20 or higher were r and omized to once-daily placebo or divalproex ER , which was titrated to clinical response or serum valproate concentration of 80 to 125 microg/mL. Sixty-six patients enrolled in the extension study . RESULTS In the double-blind study , a treatment effect was not observed with divalproex ER based on change in mean YMRS score  ( divalproex ER -8.8 [ n = 74 ] ; placebo -7.9 [ n = 70 ] ) or secondary measures . Divalproex was similar to placebo based on incidence of adverse events . Four subjects treated with divalproex ER and three treated with placebo discontinued because of adverse events . Mean ammonia levels increased in the divalproex ER group , but only one patient was symptomatic . In the long-term study , YMRS scores decreased modestly ( 2.2 points from baseline ) . The most common adverse events were headache and vomiting . CONCLUSIONS The results of the study do not provide support for the use of divalproex ER in the treatment of youths with bipolar I disorder , mixed or manic state . Further controlled trials are required to confirm or refute the findings from this study
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 .