Valproic acid for the treatment of chronic aggressive behaviour of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
| Author : Pierre Allain |
Date : 2010-1-30 |
The usual drug used for treatment of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is a stimulant generally methylphenidate, Concerta*.
In a paper of the American Journal of Psychiatry December 12th, 2009 the authors show that, in children with ADHD and chronic aggressive behavior who are not improved by methylphenidate, the addition of valproic acid in the form of sodium divalproate, divalproex, improved them.
Valproic acid could thus have a place for the treatment of children with ADHD and aggressive behaviour.
One can wonder whether it was necessary to maintain treatment with methylphenidate which did not seem active and if valproic acid alone would have made as well or better.
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