An open-label trial of divalproex in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder

A Delphi consensus among experts on assessment and treatment of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore consensus among clinicians and researchers on how to assess and treat Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD).

Methods

The Delphi method was used to organize data collected from an initial sample of 23 child psychiatrists and psychologists. Three rounds of closed/open questions were needed to achieve the objective.

Results

Fifteen experts in the field completed the whole study. Finally, 122 proposals were validated and 5 were rejected. Globally, consensus was more easily reached on items regarding assessment than on those regarding treatment. Specifically, experts agreed that intensity, frequency, and impact of DMDD symptoms needed to be measured across settings, including with parents, siblings, peers, and teachers. While a low level of consensus emerged regarding optimal pharmacological treatment, the use of psychoeducation, behavior-focused therapies (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy, chain analysis, exposure, relaxation), and systemic approaches (parent management training, family therapy, parent-child interaction therapy) met with a high degree of consensus.

Conclusion

This study presents recommendations that reached a certain degree of consensus among researchers and clinicians regarding the assessment and treatment of youths with DMDD. These findings may be useful to clinicians working with this population and to researchers since they also highlight non-consensual areas that need to be further investigated.

Pharmacologic Treatment and Management of Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents

INTRODUCTION

The importance of the appropriate therapeutic interventions in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) cannot be overstated since treatment choices and their consequences may have effects into adulthood.

AREAS COVERED

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating treatment of mania, bipolar depression, and maintenance in adolescents with BD are reviewed. When RCTs are not available or are inadequate, naturalistic data or open studies are also reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical agents in adolescents with BD appear to mirror adults with BD. Lithium/mood stabilizers are preferred first line agents over antipsychotic medications, but the latter are second line agents particularly in bipolar depression. When lithium is used, serum levels approaching 1.0 mEq/L are reasonable since younger people appear to require/tolerate higher levels. Among the antipsychotics, quetiapine appeared to be minimally better than risperidone while risperidone was associated with greater adverse events. Antipsychotics with antidepressant activity in adults, also appear to have antidepressant effects in youths. Use of antidepressants in bipolar depression is generally not recommended although it may be reasonable in specific clinical situations. The similarities between adolescent and adult outcomes suggest that it is reasonable to utilize adult data to aid with clinical decision making in adolescents with BD, especially when pediatric-specific data are unavailable.

Update on the treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents

As the phenomenology of pediatric bipolar disorder has become better delineated, clinicians are now able to more accurately assess and treat young people suffering from this condition. For pediatric patients with bipolar I disorder and symptoms of mania, medication monotherapy has been shown to lead to symptom amelioration. However, this treatment modality oftentimes does not lead to full symptom remission. In an attempt to address this observation, combination treatment strategies have recently been investigated. Recently, a maintenance study has shown that in youths who achieved remission on a combination of lithium and divalproate therapy, either of these agents alone was equally effective as a treatment strategy. In youths identified as being at genetic high risk for bipolarity who also had problematic affective symptomatology, treatment with divalproate was not found to be superior to placebo; however, those with the greatest degree of genetic risk for familial psychopathology remained in the trial longer than those with more modest amounts of familial psychopathology. These data suggest that intervention in youths with only one affected parent may not be a rational prevention strategy for pharmacological intervention in bipolar disorder, and that cohorts more genetically at risk may be a more appropriate group for preventative pharmacotherapy.

Mixed States in Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a severe and chronic illness. The occurrence of mixed symptoms might add further risk of recurrence of treatment resistance and suicidality. Early recognition and treatment of mixed symptoms might prevent illness progression and development of suicide attempts. This article provides an update on the epidemiology, clinical profile, and treatment of youth with PBD with mixed states. Mixed states in PBD are characterized by higher rates of suicide and more chronic symptoms, and are associated with younger age of onset and greater comorbidity. A careful assessment for mixed states using standardized criteria is essential.

Safety considerations in the psychopharmacology of pediatric bipolar disorder

Introduction: The standard of treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder (BPD) often requires life-long psychopharmacological management. Several pharmacological agents are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of pediatric BPD. However, each medication may cause adverse events (AEs). Provider awareness of AE profiles of common pharmacologic agents would serve to better inform patients and families in evaluating and selecting between treatment options. Areas covered: This review focuses on medications that, in our clinical experience, are commonly prescribed for youth with BPD and were evaluated in prospective clinical trials for the treatment of pediatric BPD. This paper highlights acute and long-term AEs described in these studies. Expert opinion: Most medications increase risk of AEs in youth with BPD. Treatment with lithium may lead to thyrotropin elevations, but generally does not cause significant weight gain. Divalproex may lead to weight gain; however, this finding was not consistent in comparison studies with lithium. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, and asenapine are associated with metabolic abnormalities and weight gain. Studies of ziprasidone, aripiprazole and lurasidone do not suggest significant metabolic AEs. More studies are needed to assess efficacy and safety of medications in managing pediatric BPD. Special focus on long-term maintenance trials is required to further identify long-term AEs in this population.

Effect size of lithium, carbamazepine, and sodium valproate in child and adolescent bipolar 1 disorder during manic phase: A prospective open-label study

AIM

The aim was to evaluate the "effect size (ES)," tolerability, and acceptability of lithium, carbamazepine, and sodium valproate in the acute phase treatment of pediatric Bipolar 1 disorder patients during manic phase.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This hospital-based, prospective, open-label study included 67 patients in manic phase of bipolar I disorder, aged 6-17 years, after informed consent by the caregivers. The patients were randomly assigned to the lithium group (n = 30), carbamazepine group (n = 20), and sodium valproate group (n = 17). They were assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders for School Age Children's-Present and Life time version administered to the parent and child separately, Conner's Abbreviated Rating Scale, and Cassidy Scale for Manic States (CSMS). Lithium was started in the dose of 30 mg per kg of body weight, carbamazepine in the dose of 10-20 mg/kg/day, and sodium valproate in the dose of 10-20 mg/kg body weight. Antipsychotic (chlorpromazine [CPZ] 100-500 mg per day or haloperidol up to 750 mg of CPZ equivalent) was allowed in the study. Injection haloperidol 10 mg and injection promethazine 50 mg intramuscular were allowed for initial 3-5 days to combat acute agitation. Rescue medication such as injection lorazepam 2-4 mg intramuscular was allowed throughout the study duration. The patients were rated weekly on CSMS, Bipolar Clinical Global Impression, Udvalg for kliniske Undersogelser Side Effect Rating Scale, and side effect checklist for lithium, sodium valproate, and carbamazepine, respectively. The serum level of concerned drug was obtained at weekly intervals and dose hiked, if needed to get target serum level.

RESULTS

The response rate was 90% in lithium group, 70% in carbamazepine group, and 88% in sodium valproate group on the basis of ≥33% reduction from baseline CSMS. The effects of change of CSMS over the 6 weeks across the three treatment group were found to be highly statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In the acute phase treatment of pediatric bipolar 1 disorder patients during manic phase, the ES for lithium was 0.85, for carbamazepine 0.71, and for sodium valproate 0.84. These agents are well tolerated in treating bipolar disorder in children.

Anticonvulsants for Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Their Efficacy

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 randomized controlled trials (RCT) that assessed the psychiatric benefit of anticonvulsants in patients under 18 years of age. Method: The Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed primary publications of RCTs with a minimum of 10 patients per treatment arm through December 2017. Results: Out of 355 identified non-duplicative publications, 24 met the inclusion criteria. Most RCTs were to treat bipolar disorder (n = 12) or manage recurrent aggression (n = 9). Few (n = 3) had both a multisite design and adequate statistical power. Valproate was the most frequently studied anticonvulsant (n = 15). Out of three placebo-controlled RCTs of valproate in bipolar disorder, none showed efficacy. In four RCTs, valproate was inferior to the antipsychotic risperidone. 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.

Psychopharmacology of Bipolar Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Bipolar disorder is a debilitating illness that often leads to functional impairment when untreated. Monotherapy with mood stabilizers is preferable, although combination therapy may be necessary in refractory cases. Most studies focus on the use of lithium, anticonvulsants, and second-generation antipsychotics in the treatment of acute manic or depressive phases, as well as maintaining adequate response after the episode. More research is needed in the area of psychopharmacology of pediatric bipolar disorder to bridge the gap between clinical needs and the available data.

Practitioner Review: The effects of atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilisers in the treatment of depressive symptoms in paediatric bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

The management of depressive and mixed symptoms in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) remains a matter of debate. The goal of this review is, thus, to systematically examine the impact of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) and mood stabilisers in the treatment of bipolar depression and/or mixed states.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted for studies assessing the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder type I, type II and not otherwise specified with a recent depressive, mixed or manic episode (with depressive symptoms) following DSM-IV criteria in children and adolescents as either acute or maintenance treatment. The databases searched were PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and Tripdatabase, as well as ClinicalTrials.gov. The search was limited to clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and open-label trials published in the English language between the years 2000 and 2015. Sixty clinical studies were found assessing the efficacy of mood stabilisers and AAPs in paediatric BD. Fifteen studies were not included in the primary analysis because they did not assess depressive symptomology/include scores on rating scales of depressive symptoms (Online Supplementary Material).

RESULTS

There is sufficient evidence for a Grade A recommendation of the use of olanzapine plus fluoxetine at reducing depressive symptoms in bipolar depression and of quetiapine at high doses for depressive symptoms occurring during mixed episodes. Importantly, even though monotherapy with aripiprazole, risperidone, valproate and lithium was effective at controlling mania, these drugs were not effective at reducing depressive symptoms (level A evidence for nonrecommendation).

CONCLUSIONS

These results mostly overlap with the approved treatments for bipolar depression in adults.

[Pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents]

OBJECTIVE

To review the options for acute and maintenance pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review of randomized clinical trials and open-label studies was conducted.

RESULTS

Published data from randomized controlled trials show that antipsychotics are significantly more effective than mood stabilizers in the treatment of manic or mixed episodes. Few data are available related to the treatment of depressive episodes. No trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been conducted. Only open trials suggest that lithium and lamotrigine may be effective, whereas quetiapine did not demonstrate efficacy relative to placebo in two studies. Studies regarding the effectiveness of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers for the comorbid disorders are also few and inconclusive. Although long-term treatment is a core aspect of the management of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, there is a lack of consistent efficacy data. If non-controlled trials suggest that lithium, lamotrigine, quetiapine, ziprazidone, and the combination of risperidone and divalproex or lithium may be useful in some conditions, only aripiprazole has shown efficacy relative to placebo for long-term symptom reduction and relapse prevention. Safety data show that the most frequently reported adverse events in children and adolescents treated with mood stabilizers are gastrointestinal and neurological, whereas use of antipsychotics is mainly related to weight gain and sedation. Lastly, while results from studies having evaluated the impact of pharmacological treatment on neuropsychological functioning are inconsistent, some of them nevertheless suggest that treatment with mood stabilizers may be associated with specific impairments.

CONCLUSION

Despite recent developments in identifying effective pharmacological interventions, numerous critical gaps remain.

Omega-3 Supplementation for Psychotic Mania and Comorbid Anxiety in Children

OBJECTIVES

Therapeutic benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (Ω3) for mood disorders, psychosis, and anxiety have been reported in the literature. The purpose of the present article is to provide a literature review of Ω3 supplementation for affective disorders and to illustrate the benefits of Ω3 with a case presentation of a young girl with a history of bipolar disorder-type 1 with psychotic features and generalized anxiety disorder.

METHODS

Reviewed literature includes treatment studies of the impact of Ω3 on child mood disorders supplemented by review of meta-analyses within the adult mood disorders literature. The subject of this case report participated in 11 in-depth diagnostic and functional assessments over 5 years as part of an unrelated study. Three years were presupplementation and 2 years were with supplementation with no other medication changes, thus making a naturalistic multiple-baseline single-subject experiment.

RESULTS

Augmentation over a 2 year period was notable for clinically significant and sustained improvement in depressive, manic, and psychotic symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Ω3 supplementation may be a safe, adjunct intervention for treating bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, even in the presence of psychotic and anxious features. The 2 year follow-up in this case offers hope of an accumulating and enduring benefit. Further research into mechanisms of Ω3 action and of combination treatment with other well-known interventions for mood disorders would be beneficial.

Comparison of the Addition of Siberian Ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) Versus Fluoxetine to Lithium for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, recurrent, and often life-long major psychiatric condition characterized by manic, depressive, and mixed episodes. Without treatment, there is substantial risk for morbidity and mortality, making BD a considerable public health problem.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness and tolerability of Acanthopanax senficosus (A senficosus)-an herb that is derived from eleutherosides and polysaccharides found in the plant's root- versus fluoxetine added to lithium in the treatment of BD in adolescents.

METHODS

This was a double-blind, 6-week study. The patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups-A senticosus plus lithium (A senticosus group) and fluoxetine plus lithium (fluoxetine group). The patients underwent a baseline assessment using the 17-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) during the screening period. Patients were scheduled for clinical visits at the end of weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. At the end of the 6-week treatment period, each patient's condition was rated as follows: response (indicating an improvement of ≥50% in the HAMD-17 score from baseline); remission (a HAMD-17 score of ⪯7); and switching to mania (a YMRS score >16, and meeting the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Fourth Edition, Text Revision] for a manic episode). At each visit (with the exception of the enrollment visit), the patients were queried as to whether they experienced any health problems since the previous visit, a Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale assessment was completed, and the serum lithium concentration was analyzed. The patients were instructed to report adverse events (AEs) at any time during the study. AEs were also observed by the investigator(s) at clinical visits.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine Chinese adolescents were initially enrolled into the study. However, 76 adolescents were assessed for inclusion (45 females, 31 males; mean [SD] age, 15.4 [30.0] years; age range, 12-17 years) in the study. All included patients completed the study. After 6 weeks of treatment, the response rate between the A senticosus and the fluoxetine groups was similar (67.6% vs 71.8%, respectively). The remission rate between both groups was also similar (51.4% vs 48.7%). Analyzed by a general line model, the HAMD-17 scores revealed there was a significant time effect (F = 183.06; P < 0.01), but not a significant group effect (F = 0.99) or group-by-duration of treatment interaction (F = 0.779). Three patients in the fluoxetine group experienced switching to mania compared with no patient in the A senticosus group. AEs reported by patients in the A senticosus group were as follows: nausea, 2 (5.4%); rash, 1 (2.7%); and diarrhea, 1 (2.7%). AEs reported by patients in the fluoxetine group were as follows: nausea, 4 (10.3%); anxiety, 3 (7.7%); insomnia, 3 (7.7%); constipation, 1 (2.6%); and tinnitus, 1 (2.6%).

CONCLUSION

Our study found no significant difference in these adolescents with BD treated with lithium plus adjunctive A senticosus or fluoxetine. All treatments were generally well tolerated.

Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Subtype Trend and Impact of Behavioral Comorbidities

The diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) has increased dramatically in community-treated youth in the past 20 years. No previous study has assessed the trend in PBD subtype diagnoses or the impact of clinician-reported behavioral comorbidities (BC) on psychotropic medication prescribing patterns. This study aims: (1) to characterize national trends in PBD visits in relation to PBD subtypes; and (2) to assess differences in socio-demographic PBD subtype diagnostic patterns and psychotropic medications prescribed in PBD visits with and without behavioral comorbidities (w/w/o BC). PBD visits for 1999–2010 from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data were assessed using population-weighted chi-square and logistic regression analyses. While PBD visit rates were stable across 12 years, the proportional shift of subtype diagnosis from Bipolar I (89.0%) in 1999–2002 to Bipolar Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) (74.1%) in 2007–2010 was notable. Compared with PBD without behavioral comorbidities (w/o BC), PBD visits w/BC had greater proportions of the bipolar-NOS subtype, more males, 2–14-year-olds, and more publicly-insured visits. The prescription of antipsychotics (60% vs. 61%) was common in PBD visits regardless of the presence of behavioral comorbidities. Stimulants were the predominant class prescribed for PBD visits with BC (67.8% vs. 9.4%). Antidepressants were significantly greater in PBD visits without BC (41.6% vs. 21.0%). Overall one-third of PBD youth visits were prescribed antipsychotics concomitant with other psychotropic classes. Behavioral conditions accompanying PBD visits were prominent, suggesting the need for monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of complex medication regimens in community populations.

Bipolar disorder in children

Although bipolar disorder historically was thought to only occur rarely in children and adolescents, there has been a significant increase in children and adolescents who are receiving this diagnosis more recently (Carlson, 2005). Nonetheless, the applicability of the current bipolar disorder diagnostic criteria for children, particularly preschool children, remains unclear, even though much work has been focused on this area. As a result, more work needs to be done to further the understanding of bipolar symptoms in children. It is hoped that this paper can assist psychologists and other health service providers in gleaning a snapshot of the literature in this area so that they can gain an understanding of the diagnostic criteria and other behaviors that may be relevant and be informed about potential approaches for assessment and treatment with children who meet bipolar disorder criteria. First, the history of bipolar symptoms and current diagnostic criteria will be discussed. Next, assessment strategies that may prove helpful for identifying bipolar disorder will be discussed. Then, treatments that may have relevance to children and their families will be discussed. Finally, conclusions regarding work with children who may have a bipolar disorder diagnosis will be offered.

Divalproex sodium in the treatment of pediatric psychiatric disorders

Divalproex sodium is an anticonvulsant that is used extensively in adults with indications for epilepsy, acute mania and migraine prophylaxis. It has been used in children and adolescents as a first-line agent for mania in bipolar disorder. Its efficacy as a mood stabilizer has been established, and there have been studies outlining its efficacy as an agent effective in the treatment of conduct disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, aggression and explosive disorder. Longer-acting formulations are now available that cause less gastrointestinal side effects and can also be taken once a day, thus potentially increasing adherence, an important factor in this patient population. Future directions would include developing a more potent valproic acid formulation with fewer side effects, completing randomized controlled trials to establish the efficacy of divalproex sodium in various other pediatric psychiatric disorders, establishing the relative efficacy of the compound in head-to-head comparisons with other mood stabilizers, examining systematically the value of the compound in multimodal pediatric psychiatric treatment packages, and complete effectiveness trials that demonstrate the short- and long-term effectiveness of the compound in the real world of clinicians. In this drug profile, divalproex sodium and its uses in the pediatric population for psychiatric conditions are reviewed.

Child psychopharmacology: Is it more similar than different from adult psychopharmacology?

Despite having a large chunk of human population, Asian countries face shortage of mental health professionals. There is further shortage of doctors dealing with special groups of population like the children, the elderly, and the medically ill. However, in this era of super-specializations, are the basic principles of general psychopharmacology being forgotten? Dealing with child population is different and often more difficult than adult population but are management guidelines for the two populations vastly divergent? A close look at this paints a different picture. Psychotherapies applied in adults and those in children and adolescents are disparate owing to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical immaturation in children and adolescents. But the drugs for the treatment of pediatric psychiatric disorders are mostly similar to those prescribed for adults (case in point -bipolar disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia). Rather than focusing energy on propagating the differences in assorted subgroups of population, honing of skills regarding intricacies of psychopharmacology is required to be emphasized. Detailed history taking, careful evaluation of the patient, sound diagnostic formulation, and prescribing medications which are tailor made to the patient will all go a long way in ensuring a functional recovery of the patients irrespective of the group they belong to.

Collaborative role of the pediatrician in the diagnosis and management of bipolar disorder in adolescents

Despite the complexity of diagnosis and management, pediatricians have an important collaborative role in referring and partnering in the management of adolescents with bipolar disorder. This report presents the classification of bipolar disorder as well as interviewing and diagnostic guidelines. Treatment options are described, particularly focusing on medication management and rationale for the common practice of multiple, simultaneous medications. Medication adverse effects may be problematic and better managed with collaboration between mental health professionals and pediatricians. Case examples illustrate a number of common diagnostic and management issues.

Pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents

This review focuses mainly on published articles regarding the treatment of school-aged children and adolescents with pediatric bipolar disorder. In light of systematic reviews, large randomized controlled trial data are emphasized wherever possible. This review addresses the treatment of acute manic/mixed episodes, including combination treatment, the preliminary literature regarding bipolar depression among youth, treatment in the face of comorbid conditions, and maintenance treatment. Suggestions regarding future directions are offered. A clinical vignette describing a teen with bipolar disorder is presented and bipolar medications, dosing, efficacy, side effects, contraindications, and succinct comments on each medication are summarized.

Translational neuroscience in pediatric bipolar disorder

While controversial and often confounded with other forms of psychopathology, recent studies have shown that bipolar disorder (BD) is on the rise in children and adolescents. Research has made important strides in advancing our understanding of the phenomenology, neural underpinnings and treatment outcomes for BD youths. However, there is an increasing need to unite these domains to identify potential neural effects and predictors of treatment outcome. Pavuluri et al. have conducted such a study, evaluating the neural effects of divalproex or risperidone for pediatric BD. The future is likely to bring more of such studies, potentially resulting in a biomarker augmented approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric BD.

Beyond the guidelines for bipolar disorder: practical issues in long-term treatment with lithium

OBJECTIVE

Several treatment guidelines are available for clinicians working with patients with bipolar disorder (BD), but some of the more nuanced aspects of lithium therapy go beyond the scope of such guidelines. Therefore, in this perspective, our objective was to focus on specific practical issues of lithium treatment, including the selection and initiation of long-term treatment, and management and discontinuation (if indicated) of lithium prophylaxis.

METHOD

We conducted a focused review of the relevant literature on the treatment of BD.

RESULTS

Consultation requests to a BD specialty service often relate to issues for which there is limited evidence, including when to initiate long-term treatment, whether choice of mood stabilizer is specific, how long to treat acute episodes, whether to switch or add on medication when treatment fails, how long to continue effective treatment, and what medication to use when a lithium-responsive patient must discontinue lithium.

CONCLUSION

Optimal long-term treatment of BD will require more research as well as better alignment of clinical and training programs.

Risperidone and divalproex differentially engage the fronto-striato-temporal circuitry in pediatric mania: a pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging study

OBJECTIVE

The current study examined the impact of risperidone and divalproex on affective and working memory circuitry in patients with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD).

METHOD

This was a six-week, double-blind, randomized trial of risperidone plus placebo versus divalproex plus placebo for patients with mania (n = 21; 13.6 ± 2.5 years of age). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) outcomes were measured using a block design, affective, N-back task with angry, happy, and neutral face stimuli at baseline and at 6-week follow-up. Matched healthy controls (HC; n = 15, 14.5 ± 2.8 years) were also scanned twice.

RESULTS

In post hoc analyses on the significant interaction in a 3×2×2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) that included patient groups and HC, the risperidone group showed greater activation after treatment in response to the angry face condition in the left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and striatum relative to the divalproex group. The divalproex group showed greater activation relative to the risperidone group in the left inferior frontal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus. Over the treatment course, the risperidone group showed greater change in activation in the left ventral striatum than the divalproex group, and the divalproex group showed greater activation change in left inferior frontal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus than the risperidone group. Furthermore, each patient group showed increased activation relative to HC in fronto-striato-temporal regions over time. The happy face condition was potentially less emotionally challenging in this study and did not elicit notable findings.

CONCLUSIONS

When patients performed a working memory task under emotional duress inherent in the paradigm, divalproex enhanced activation in a fronto-temporal circuit whereas risperidone increased activation in the dopamine (D₂) receptor-rich ventral striatum. Clinical trial registration information-Risperidone and Divalproex Sodium With MRI Assessment in Pediatric Bipolar; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00176202.

Pharmacologic treatments for pediatric bipolar disorder: a review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

A growing body of literature has documented pediatric bipolar disorder to be a severely impairing form of psychopathology. However, concerns remain as to the inadequacy of the extant literature on its pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, treatment studies have not been systematically reviewed for treatment effects on core and associated symptoms. Thus, a systematic evaluation and synthesis of the available literature on the efficacy of antimanic pharmacotherapy for pediatric bipolar disorder on symptoms of mania, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was undertaken.

METHOD

A systematic search was conducted through PubMed from 1989 through 2010 for open-label and randomized controlled trials published in English on the pharmacotherapy of pediatric mania.

RESULTS

There have been 46 open-label (n = 29) and randomized (n = 17) clinical trials of antimanic agents in pediatric bipolar disorder encompassing 2,666 subjects that evaluated a range of therapeutic agents, including traditional mood stabilizers, other anticonvulsants, second-generation antipsychotics, and naturopathic compounds. This literature has documented that the available armamentarium has different levels of efficacy in the treatment of pediatric mania. Because all psychotropic classes are associated with important adverse effects, a careful risk-benefit analysis is warranted when initiating pharmacologic treatment with any of these compounds. In the limited data available, the effects of antimanic agents on depression and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have been, in general, modest. Few studies have evaluated the effects of antimanic agents in children younger than 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial body of scientific literature has evaluated the safety and efficacy of various medicines and drug classes in the treatment of mania in pediatric bipolar disorder. More work is needed to assess the safety and efficacy of psychotropic drugs in children younger than 10 years, to further evaluate the efficacy of naturopathic compounds, and to further evaluate the effects of antimanic treatments for the management of depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Double-blind randomized trial of risperidone versus divalproex in pediatric bipolar disorder: fMRI outcomes

The aim of this research was to determine the relative effects of risperidone and divalproex on brain function in pediatric mania. This is a double-blind 6-week functional magnetic resonance imaging trial with 24 unmedicated manic patients randomized to risperidone or divalproex, and 14 healthy controls (HCs) matched for IQ and demographic factors (mean age: 13.1±3.3years). A pediatric affective color matching task, in which subjects matched the color of a positive, negative or neutral word with one of two colored circles, was administered. The primary clinical measure was the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The risperidone group, relative to HC, showed an increase in activation from pre- to post-treatment in right pregenual and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and decreased activation in bilateral middle frontal gyrus during the negative condition; and decreased activation in left inferior and medial, and right middle frontal gyri, left inferior parietal lobe, and right striatum with positive condition. In the divalproex group, relative to HC, there was an increased activation in right superior temporal gyrus in the negative condition; and in left medial frontal gyrus and right precuneus with the positive condition. Greater pre-treatment right amygdala activity with negative and positive condition in the risperidone group, and left amygdala activity with positive condition in divalproex group, predicted poor response on YMRS. Risperidone and divalproex yield differential patterns of prefrontal activity during an emotion processing task in pediatric mania. Increased amygdala activity at baseline is a potential biomarker predicting poor treatment response to both the risperidone and divalproex.

Olanzapine approved for the acute treatment of schizophrenia or manic/mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adolescent patients

BACKGROUND

Severe and persistent mental illnesses in children and adolescents, such as early- onset schizophrenia spectrum (EOSS) disorders and pediatric bipolar disorder (pedBP), are increasingly recognized. Few treatments have demonstrated efficacy in rigorous clinical trials. Enduring response to current medications appears limited. Recently, olanzapine was approved for the treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia or acute manic/mixed episodes in pedBP.

METHODS

PubMed searches were conducted for olanzapine combined with pharmacology, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. Searches related to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were limited to children and adolescents. The bibliographies of the retrieved articles were hand-checked for additional relevant studies. The epidemiology, phenomenology, and treatment of EOSS and pedBP, and olanzapine's pharmacology are reviewed. Studies of olanzapine treatment in youth with EOSS and pedBP are examined.

RESULTS

Olanzapine is efficacious for EOSS and pedBP. However, olanzapine is not more efficacious than risperidone, molindone, or haloperidol in EOSS and is less efficacious than clozapine in treatment-resistant EOSS. No comparative trials have been done in pedBP. Olanzapine is associated with weight gain, dyslipidemia, and transaminase elevations in youth. Extrapyramidal symptoms, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and blood dyscrasias have also been reported but appear rare.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors conclude that olanzapine should be considered a second-line agent in EOSS and pedBP due to its risks for significant weight gain and lipid dysregulation. Awareness of the consistent weight and metabolic changes observed in olanzapine-treated youth focused attention on the potential long-term risks of atypical antipsychotics in youth.

Double-blind randomized trial of risperidone versus divalproex in pediatric bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relative effects of risperidone and divalproex in pediatric mania.

METHODS

This is a double-blind, randomized, outpatient clinical trial with 66 children and adolescents (mean age= 10.9 ± 3.3 years; age range= 8-18 years) with mania who were randomly assigned to either risperidone (0.5-2 mg/day, n= 33) or divalproex (60-120 μg/mL, n= 33) for a six-week period. Measures included the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R).

RESULTS

Mixed-effects regression models, with interaction between time and the active drug as predictors, found that the risperidone group had more rapid improvement than the divalproex group (p < 0.05), although final scores did not differ significantly between groups. Mixed models using only those subjects who completed the six-week study found similar results. The response rate on YMRS was 78.1% for risperidone and 45.5% for divalproex (p < 0.01). The remission rate for risperidone was 62.5%, compared with 33.3% for divalproex (p < 0.05). Improvement on the CDRS-R was significantly higher for the risperidone group relative to the divalproex group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in safety, but subject retention was significantly higher at study endpoint in the risperidone group (p < 0.01). Dropout rate was 24% in the risperidone group and 48% in the divalproex group, with increased irritability being the most common reason for dropout in the latter. There was no significant weight gain in either group.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that risperidone was associated with more rapid improvement and greater reduction in manic symptoms compared to divalproex. Although the results suggest that both drugs are safe, risperidone's lower attrition rate and lower rate of adverse events may suggest better toleration. Clinical trials with larger samples are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

A prospective open-label trial of lamotrigine monotherapy in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of lamotrigine monotherapy as an acute treatment of bipolar mood elevation in children with bipolar spectrum disorders.

METHOD

This was a 12-week, open-label, prospective trial of lamotrigine monotherapy to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of this compound in treating pediatric bipolar disorder. Assessments included the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I), Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Adverse events were assessed through spontaneous self-reports, vital signs weight monitoring, and laboratory analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine children with bipolar disorder (YMRS at entry: 31.6 +/- 5.5) were enrolled in the study and 22 (56%) completed the 12-week trial. Lamotrigine was slowly titrated to an average endpoint dose of 160.7 +/- 128.3 in subjects <12 years of age (N = 22) and 219.1 +/- 172.2 mg/day in children 12-17 years of age (N = 17). Treatment with lamotrigine was associated with statistically significant levels of improvement in mean YMRS scores (-14.9 +/- 9.7, P < 0.001) at endpoint. Lamotrigine treatment also resulted in significant improvement in the severity of depressive, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychotic symptoms. Lamotrigine was generally well tolerated with marginal increase in body weight (47.0 +/- 18.0 kg vs. 47.2 +/- 17.9 kg, P= 0.6) and was not associated with abnormal changes in laboratory parameters. Several participants were discontinued due to skin rash; in all cases, the rash resolved shortly after discontinuation of treatment. No patient developed Steven Johnson syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Open-label lamotrigine treatment appears to be beneficial in the treatment of bipolar disorder and associated conditions in children. Future placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Pharmacological response in juvenile bipolar disorder subtypes: A naturalistic retrospective examination

This study reports on the naturalistic pharmacotherapy of 266 youths with bipolar disorder (BP), manic or hypomanic episode (158 males and 108 females, 13.8+/-2.8 years), first treated with monotherapy on valproic acid (VPA) (n=158, 59.4%), lithium (n=90, 33.8%) or atypical antipsychotics (n=18, 6.8%). Among the patients receiving mood stabilizers, 59.5% of those treated with VPA and 47.8% of those receiving lithium did not need other antimanic agents (mood stabilizers and/or atypical antipsychotics). Lower severity was associated with a greater persistence of both VPA and lithium monotherapy. Factors associated with greater persistence of VPA monotherapy were BP II and co-occurring generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder and simple phobias. On the contrary, BP I and co-occurring psychotic symptoms and/or conduct disorder were associated with a lower persistence of VPA monotherapy. Factors associated with lower persistence of lithium monotherapy were younger age and the association with attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD). Type of BP and presence of psychotic symptoms and conduct disorder did not affect the lithium monotherapy. Overall, predictors of non-response (multiple stepwise logistic regression) in both VPA and lithium groups were baseline Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity score and comorbid conduct disorder; while psychotic symptoms and absence of comorbid generalized anxiety disorder were predictors of poorer treatment response only in the VPA group, and chronic course, comorbid ADHD and absence of comorbid panic disorder were predictors only in the lithium group. Such naturalistic data from an ordinary clinical setting have relevance to clinical practice.

Neurological and cardiovascular adverse events associated with antimanic treatment in children and adolescents

To identify the factors associated with incident neurological and cardiovascular adverse events in children and adolescents treated with antimanic agents, a retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted. Medicaid medical and pharmacy claims between January 1996 and December 2005 were used to identify 3657 children and adolescents prescribed antimanic medications, and a random sample of 4500 children not treated with psychotropic medications. All adverse events examined (sedation/drowsiness, headaches, involuntary movements/extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), cardiovascular events, hypertension, and orthostatic hypotension) were more prevalent in the antimanic-treated cohort. The odds of developing incident sedation/drowsiness and headaches were significantly higher for those prescribed carbamazepine, and co-prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or antipsychotics. The odds of incident involuntary movements/EPS were significantly higher for those co-prescribed antimanic and antipsychotic agents, and those with comorbid central nervous system (CNS), organic brain disorders/mental retardation, or epilepsy. Incident cardiovascular events, hypertension, and orthostatic hypotension odds were significantly higher for those co-prescribed antimanic agents and antipsychotics, or those with comorbid epilepsy or metabolic conditions. Co-prescription of antimanic and antipsychotic agents is more likely associated with neurological and cardiovascular adverse reactions, especially in young patients with preexisting CNS/neurological disorders.

[Off-label use of psychotropic medications in pediatric wards: a prospective study]

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of psychotropic medications for both labeled and off-labeled indications in a French paediatric teaching hospital.

METHODS

A prospective analysis of all psychotropic drug prescriptions was conducted during a 6-month interval. Details were recorded from the computerized prescription order entry system. They included demographic data (sex, age and weight) and psychotropic medications (name, dosage, schedule, route of administration and indication). The physicians specified the indication when prescribing the psychotropic medication. All prescriptions were assessed for off-label use. Off-label prescriptions were defined as: use of a different dose or dose schedule, use for an indication not included in the license or approved for adults only, drug use outside the age range of the product license, use of medicines for which no paediatric information was available, use when the product was contraindicated, use of drug preparations that were manufactured by the hospital pharmacy, use of licensed drugs that were modified by the hospital pharmacy and use of new drugs available under a special manufacturing license. Each prescription was compared with data available in the National French Formulary.

RESULTS

A total of 1629 drug prescriptions were written for 472 patients. Sixty-eight percent of all drug prescriptions were for off-label uses: indication not included in the license or approved for adults only in 40%, no paediatric information available in 37%, different dose or dose schedule in 7%, licensed drugs that were modified by the hospital pharmacy in 5%, administration to children outside the age range of the product license in 4%, drug preparations that were manufactured by the hospital pharmacy in 4%, contraindication in 2% and new drugs available under a special manufacturing license in 1%. Sixty-six percent of the patients were prescribed a psychotropic drug in an off-label manner. Over half of the off-label prescriptions were given to adolescents (62%), followed by children (29%), infants (8%) and neonates (1%). The percentage of off-label prescriptions by age was: neonates 91%; adolescents 74%; children 59% and infants 58%. The percentage of off-label prescriptions by medication class are presented in decreasing order of prescription frequency: anxiolytics 65%; antipsychotics 69%; antidepressants 92%; antiepileptics 51%; stimulants 30%; antiparkinsonians 100% and hypnotics 100%. The 5 drugs most commonly prescribed off label were risperidone (12%), clobazam (12%), amitriptyline (11%), hydroxyzine (10%) and diazepam (7%). Nearly half (47%) of all off-label prescriptions were associated with 3 indications: anxiety (24%), disruptive behaviour (12%) and pain (11%).

CONCLUSION

The high rates of off-label prescription documented here and elsewhere highlight the need for further controlled clinical trials to evaluate the risks and benefits of psychotropic medication in children and adolescents.

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 randomized 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.

Pharmacologic treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in the pediatric population as the phenomenology of this disorder is becoming more clearly delineated. Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric BPD is important to minimize psychosocial disability and improve prognosis. Traditional mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotic agents are frequently used to treat BPD in youth, and there are emerging data to support their use in this population. This article provides a review of the literature on appropriate pharmacologic treatment strategies for BPD in children and adolescents. The complex treatment issues of comorbid BPD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder also are addressed.

Cardiovascular and neurological adverse events associated with antidepressant treatment in children and adolescents

A retrospective cohort design of Medicaid medical and pharmacy claims for 1996 through 2005 was employed for 14,171 children and adolescents prescribed an antidepressant medication and a random sample of 4500 children not treated with any class of psychotropic medication to compare the prevalence rates of cardiovascular and neurological adverse events. The treated cohort evinced a higher prevalence of cardiovascular events, orthostatic hypotension, seizures, insomnia, and headaches. In the treated cohort, patients were at a significantly higher risk for incident cardiovascular events when exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and weight-inducing antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Incident orthostatic hypotension was associated with weight-inducing antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Incident seizures and extrapyramidal symptoms were unrelated to antidepressant or co-prescribed psychotropic medications, but both were significantly associated with comorbid central nervous system, organic brain/mental retardation, or preexisting cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions. Headaches and dizziness were significantly related to taking mood stabilizers.

Effect of divalproex on brain morphometry, chemistry, and function in youth at high-risk for bipolar disorder: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Divalproex has been found efficacious in treating adolescents with and at high risk for bipolar disorder (BD), but little is known about the effects of mood stabilizers on the brain itself. We sought to examine the effects of divalproex on the structure, chemistry, and function of specific brain regions in children at high-risk for BD.

METHODS

A total of 24 children with mood dysregulation but not full BD, all offspring of a parent with BD, were treated with divalproex monotherapy for 12 weeks. A subset of 11 subjects and 6 healthy controls were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS], and functional MRI [fMRI]) at baseline and after 12 weeks.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes in amygdalar or cortical volume found over 12 weeks. Furthermore, no changes in neurometabolite ratios were found. However, we found the degree of decrease in prefrontal brain activation to correlate with degree of decrease in depressive symptom severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Bipolar offspring at high risk for BD did not show gross morphometric, neurometabolite, or functional changes after 12 weeks of treatment with divalproex. Potential reasons include small sample size, short exposure to medications, or lack of significant neurobiological impact of divalproex in this particular population.

Long-term safety of divalproex sodium extended-release in children and adolescents with bipolar I disorder

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this open-label study was to assess the safety of divalproex sodium extended-release in the treatment of children and adolescents with acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder.

METHODS

This was a 6-month, Phase 3, open-label study in healthy subjects aged 9-17 years with a current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis of bipolar I disorder manic or mixed episode. Divalproex sodium extended-release (DVPX-ER) was initiated at 15 mg/kg per day on day 1 (not to exceed 750 mg/day) with increases allowed to a maximum of 35 mg/kg per day. Study visits were conducted on day 1 and at months 1, 2, 3, and 6. Assessments included standard safety evaluations and appropriate rating scales for clinical effect.

RESULTS

A total of 226 subjects were enrolled; 109 subjects completed the study. The most common adverse events were weight gain (16%), nausea (9%), and increased appetite (8%). Nonsymptomatic elevations of mean ammonia levels in plasma were observed. The mean Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) decreased 12.4 from baseline to final visit; small improvements were seen in behavior and caregiver stress ratings.

CONCLUSIONS

DVPX-ER was generally well tolerated in children and adolescents with acute mania, with a side-effect profile similar to that observed in adults.

[Pharmacotherapy in bipolar disorders during childhood and adolescence]

OBJECTIVE

Bipolar disorders during childhood and adolescence are rare, but serious and highly recurrent disorders, often associated with negative outcome. Pharmacotherapy, including Lithium, other mood stabilizers and typical antipsychotic agents, is the first-line treatment in bipolar disorders and often necessary for many months or years.

METHOD

A computerized medline-search (Pubmed) was made for prospective studies and reviews of bipolar disorder in this age-group published during the last 10 years, which were then reviewed for their relevance.

RESULTS

Despite the widespread use of substances whose efficacy for adults is well-established, there is a substantial lack of empirical data regarding the efficacy and safety in the treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Placebo-controlled studies are very rare, and the interpretation of the existing data is complicated by the diagnostic controversy about bipolar disorder in children. Side-effects are more common in children and adolescents than in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy may be favoured in cases of severe and psychotic bipolar disorder. Needed are more placebo-controlled studies and long-term studies on the efficacy and safety of mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotic agents in the treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.

Neurological adverse events associated with antipsychotic treatment in children and adolescents

A retrospective cohort design using medical and pharmacy claims from one state's Medicaid program compared incidence rates for neurological adverse events associated with antipsychotic use in 4140 youths prescribed antipsychotic medications and an untreated sample of 4500 youths, January 1998 to December 2005. The treated cohort evinced a higher prevalence of involuntary movements, sedation, and seizures. The odds of incident involuntary movements were significantly higher for those taking aripiprazole, risperidone, haloperidol, and multiple antipsychotics. The odds of incident seizures were greater for those taking risperidone, multiple antipsychotics, and serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors. The odds of incident sedation were greater for those taking ziprasidone, risperidone, quetiapine, multiple antipsychotics, and serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors. Exposure to risperidone, multiple antipsychotics, and serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors consistently confers a higher risk of developing a range of neurological adverse events in young patients, especially those with preexisting central nervous system, mental retardation, or cardiovascular disorders.

Comparative clinical responses to risperidone and divalproex in patients with pediatric bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To compare clinical responses of patients with pediatric bipolar disorder being treated with risperidone versus divalproex.

METHODS

Medical records of outpatients younger than 18 years of age were reviewed to gather data on those who received risperidone or divalproex monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Effectiveness was assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) scales assigned by the treating clinician at visits during the initial 3 months of treatment with risperidone or divalproex. Change in CGI-S score over time was the primary outcome variable. The number of patients with a CGI-I score of < or = 2 at endpoint who did not discontinue the index medication because of adverse events was also compared.

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients aged 5-14 years who were being treated for bipolar disorder were identified (risperidone n = 16; divalproex n = 12). Regression analysis of change in CGI-S scores revealed greater reductions in bipolar symptoms (p = 0.022) and a faster reduction in CGI-S scores (p = 0.016) in patients receiving risperidone than divalproex. A significantly shorter time to achieving a CGI-I score of < or = 2 was observed with risperidone than divalproex (26.8 +/- 20.7 days vs. 33.8 +/- 11.3 days; p = 0.048). However, the proportion of patients with a CGI-I score < or = 2 at endpoint was not significantly different (risperidone 69% versus divalproex 42%, p = 0.250). Three patients discontinued risperidone and 2 discontinued divalproex. Of these, none of the patients treated with risperidone and only 1 patient treated with divalproex discontinued treatment because of a documented adverse event. Risperidone was associated with significantly more weight gain then divalproex at 3 months (risperidone 2.46 +/- 1.16 kg versus divalproex 0.43 +/- 0.77 kg, p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving risperidone experienced a faster decrease in the severity of their bipolar symptoms, as measured by faster decreases in CGI-S scores, than did those who received divalproex. However, risperidone was also associated with significantly greater weight gain.

Valproate use in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder

This review aims to provide an update on valproate use in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder by summarising currently available clinical trials results. Guidelines for the treatment of type I bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, with or without psychotic features, recommend valproate, alone or in combination with an atypical antipsychotic, as a first-line treatment option; however, most randomised and open-label studies investigating valproate in paediatric populations have only evaluated a small number of participants. Therefore, the data from these studies need to be interpreted cautiously. A further complicating issue is the controversy surrounding the definition and diagnosis of bipolar disorders in this age group. Data suggest that valproate may be particularly useful for patients whose symptoms have not been responsive to lithium, or as part of combination therapy. Evidence from randomised controlled trials show that valproate monotherapy is associated with a Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) response rate (percentage of patients with a reduction in YMRS score from baseline to endpoint of >/=50%) of 53%, while combination therapy with valproate plus quetiapine is associated with a YMRS response rate of 87%; however, placebo response rates were high, emphasising the need for caution when interpreting data from open-label trials. At present, data supporting the efficacy and safety of mood stabilisers for the treatment of bipolar disorders in children and adolescents are limited; therefore, well designed, randomised controlled clinical studies are needed to identify and confirm the potential roles of valproate in children and adolescents with bipolar disorders, particularly in those with psychiatric co-morbidities. Furthermore, clinical studies are required to clarify the efficacy and tolerability profile of valproate in comparison with other agents used in paediatric and adolescent bipolar disorder.

A prospective open-label treatment trial of ziprasidone monotherapy in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of ziprasidone for treating pediatric mania.

METHODS

This was an eight-week, open-label, prospective study of ziprasidone monotherapy (57.3 +/- 33.9 mg/day) in 21 bipolar youth [manic, mixed, or bipolar not otherwise specified (NOS); 6-17 years old]. Assessments included the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Adverse events were assessed through spontaneous self-reports, vital signs, weight monitoring, and laboratory analysis.

RESULTS

Fourteen of the 21 youth (67%) completed the study. Ziprasidone treatment was associated with clinically and statistically significant improvement in mean YMRS scores (-10.8 +/- 8.4, p < 0.0001) and 57% had a CGI-I <or=2 at endpoint. Ziprasidone was well tolerated with no statistically significant increase in body weight (0.6 +/- 0.4 kg, p = 0.2) or QTc interval (-3.7 +/- 4.7, p = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Open-label ziprasidone treatment was associated with a significant short-term improvement of symptoms of pediatric bipolar disorder. Future placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are warranted.

Factors associated with mental health service utilization among bipolar youth

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to characterize patterns of mental health service utilization within a sample of bipolar youth. Demographic variables, youth bipolar characteristics, youth comorbid conditions, and parental psychopathology were examined as predictors of treatment utilization across different levels of care.

METHODS

A total of 293 bipolar youth (aged 7-17 years) and their parents completed a diagnostic interview, family psychiatric history measures, and an assessment of mental health service utilization. Demographic and clinical variables were measured at baseline and mental health service use was measured at the six-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Approximately 80% of bipolar youth attended psychosocial treatment services over the span of 6 months. Of those who attended treatment, 67% attended only outpatient services, 22% received inpatient/partial hospitalization, and 12% received residential/therapeutic school-based services. Using multinomial logistic regression, older age, female gender, and bipolar characteristics, including greater symptom severity and rapid cycling, were found to predict higher levels of care. Youth suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, comorbid conduct disorder, and parental substance use disorders also predicted use of more restrictive treatment settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Results underscore the importance of assessing for and addressing suicidality, comorbid conduct disorder, and parental substance use disorders early in the treatment of bipolar youth to potentially reduce the need for more restrictive levels of care.

Psychopharmacological treatment for very young children: contexts and guidelines

Systematic research and practice guidelines addressing preschool psychopharmacological treatment in very young children are limited, despite evidence of increasing clinical use of medications in this population. The Preschool Psychopharmacology Working Group (PPWG) was developed to review existing literature relevant to preschool psychopharmacology treatment and to develop treatment recommendations to guide clinicians considering psychopharmacological treatment in very young children. This article reviews the developmental considerations related to preschool psychopharmacological treatment, presents current evidence bases for specific disorders in early childhood, and describes the recommended algorithms for medication use. The purpose of this effort is to promote responsible treatment of young children, recognizing that this will sometimes involve the use of medications.

Divalproex sodium for the treatment of PTSD and conduct disordered youth: a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial

We examined the efficacy of divalproex sodium (DVP) for the treatment of PTSD in conduct disorder, utilizing a previous study in which 71 youth were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Twelve had PTSD. Subjects (all males, mean age 16, SD 1.0) were randomized into high and low dose conditions. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) ratings for core PTSD symptoms (Intrusion, avoidance and hyper arousal) were primary outcome measures, weekly slopes of impulsivity secondary ones. Intent-to-treat analyses showed significant positive associations between receiving high dose of DVP CGI's. Parallel analyses comparing outcome by drug level achieved strengthened the results.

Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for pediatric bipolar disorder

There has been a recent increase in recognition and diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), along with an increase in prescriptions for psychotropic medications for treating children suffering from this chronic, potentially disabling disorder. Lithium remains the only FDA-approved mood stabilizer for use in children > 12 years of age and along with valproic acid and carbamazepine, forms the triad of traditional mood stabilizers used for initiation of treatment for PBD. There has been a recent surge in the use of atypical antipsychotics in PBD, which may be due to their relative ease of administration and lack of requirement for serum level monitoring. A combination of traditional mood stabilizers along with atypical antipsychotics is commonly used in clinical practice, despite a lack of compelling empirical data. Although there is an urgent need for controlled studies on the available treatment options and strategies in PBD, recent expert consensus guidelines and emerging controlled pharmacotherapy data on PBD will lay the platform for future scientific research in the area.

Adult bipolar disorder is continuous with pediatric bipolar disorder

Considerable debate exists regarding the continuity of bipolar disorder (BD) in children and adolescents. Do affected children continue to have BD as adults? Are pediatric forms of BD distinct from adult forms of the disorder? Here, I argue that, in fact, strictly defined BD I and II in children and adolescents is continuous with adult BD. First, if we take developmental differences into account, children and adults share similar symptoms, since they are both diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Next, retrospective studies indicate that 50% to 66% of adults with BD had onset of their disorder before age 19 years. Early prospective data indicate that adolescents with BD progress to become young adults with BD. Further, family studies of pediatric BD probands find high rates of BD in adult relatives, and pediatric offspring of parents with BD have elevated rates of BD, compared with control subjects. Finally, biological characteristics of pediatric BD (such as treatment response, neurobiology, and genetics) are either shared with adults having BD or fit logically into developmental models of BD. Thus, while not conclusive, a preponderance of data support the hypothesis that pediatric BD is continuous with adult BD. Prospective studies incorporating phenomenological and biological assessment are needed to decisively address this issue.

Comorbidity with ADHD decreases response to pharmacotherapy in children and adolescents with acute mania: evidence from a metaanalysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) influences response to treatment in young patients with acute mania.

METHODS

We conducted a metaanalysis of 5 open trials of 100, 35, 41, 60, and 37 children and adolescents. The pooled group included 273 children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD), divided into 2 subgroups: those with (n = 132), and those without (n = 141), ADHD comorbidity.

RESULTS

There was a moderate and significant reduction in relative risk (RR) favouring treatment response in children and adolescents with BD but without ADHD comorbidity (RR 0.822; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.97; P = 0.021). The negative effect of ADHD comorbidity on treatment response was more significant in studies including adolescents only or subjects with BD I only.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that children and adolescents with BD and ADHD tend to be less responsive to drugs used in treatment of acute mania.