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How should clinicians treat mood-disordered children who are at high risk for bipolar I disorder (BP-I)? Two recent studies address the question.
The first study used “gold standard” methods of double-blinding, placebo control, and random assignment to study the effect of divalproex. The participants were 56 children (mean age, 10.8 years) considered at high risk for BP-I because they had one first-degree relative with bipolar disorder, were diagnosed with bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) or cyclothymia, and had experienced at least one 4-hour period of elated mood. Target divalproex blood levels were 50 to 100 µg/mL. Comprehensive psychiatric tests were administered for up to 5 years. Time to discontinuation for any reason …