Results There is some evidence of the effectiveness of medication in treating DBDs , with positive outcomes for lithium and risperidone in particular .
Pharmacotherapy also demonstrated some efficacy in reducing symptoms of aggression .
Medication was relatively well-tolerated , as indicated by equivalent dropout rates in medication and comparison groups .
Rationale Pharmacotherapy is frequently considered in the treatment of  disruptive behavior disorders ( DBDs ) in children and adolescents .
There are , however , no systematic review s of this literature .
Objectives The aim of this work is to determine whether medication is effective in treating pediatric disruptive behavior disorders and related problems of impulse control , as well as to examine differences in the treatment response and tolerability of different medication classes and agents .
A double-blind placebo-controlled study of lithium in hospitalized aggressive children and adolescents with conduct disorder.
BACKGROUND A subgroup of children and adolescents with conduct disorder are characterized by severe and persistent aggression . Although there is no agreed on treatment for such aggression , lithium carbonate has shown promise in some studies involving children . Our study was design ed to critically assess the efficacy of lithium in the treatment of aggression in children and adolescents using a measure specific for aggression . METHODS Subjects were in patients with conduct disorder hospitalized because of severe and chronic aggression . A parallel-groups design was used in this double-blind , placebo-controlled trial with r and omization to lithium or placebo . Only those who met the aggression criterion during the 2-week placebo-baseline period were r and omized to 4 weeks of treatment . Outcome measures included Clinical Global Impressions , the Global Clinical Judgements ( Consensus ) Scale , and the Overt Aggression Scale . RESULTS Eighty-six in patients enrolled in the study ; 40 ( 33 male and 7 female ; median age , 12.5 years ) entered and completed the treatment phase . Lithium was statistically and clinical ly superior to placebo . Sixteen of 20 subjects in the lithium group were responders on the Consensus ratings vs 6 of 20 in the placebo group ( P=.004 ) . Ratings on the Overt Aggression Scale decreased significantly for the lithium group vs the placebo group ( P=.04 ) . More than half of the subjects in the lithium group experienced nausea , vomiting , and urinary frequency . CONCLUSIONS Lithium is a safe and effective short-term treatment for aggression in in patients with conduct disorder , although its use is associated with adverse effects
Results There is some evidence of the effectiveness of medication in treating DBDs , with positive outcomes for lithium and risperidone in particular .
Pharmacotherapy also demonstrated some efficacy in reducing symptoms of aggression .
Medication was relatively well-tolerated , as indicated by equivalent dropout rates in medication and comparison groups .
Rationale Pharmacotherapy is frequently considered in the treatment of  disruptive behavior disorders ( DBDs ) in children and adolescents .
There are , however , no systematic review s of this literature .
Objectives The aim of this work is to determine whether medication is effective in treating pediatric disruptive behavior disorders and related problems of impulse control , as well as to examine differences in the treatment response and tolerability of different medication classes and agents .