Depakote (Divalproex Sodium) for Children With Temper Dysregulation and Severe Mood Swings (NCT02078596) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 4
Depakote (Divalproex Sodium) for Children With Temper Dysregulation and Severe Mood Swings
United States15 participantsStarted 1997-03
Plain-language summary
Though the Disruptive Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence are a major source of morbidity and fill a large proportion of special education slots, specific pharmacologic treatment is available only for those children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Other disruptive children are usually said to "have" Oppositional Defiant or Conduct Disorder. These diagnoses are useful descriptively but they do not have specific treatment implications In the course of treating adolescents with explosive tempers and severe mood swings with Depakote (divalproex sodium), the investigators learned that younger children manifest symptoms that seemed identical to those constituting the adolescent disorder. They were in special education programs and not responding to psychostimulants.
The investigators systematically collected data on these children using the same screening criteria as in our studies of adolescents. Since Depakote has been used to treat seizures in children for more than twenty years, a great deal was known about its safety profile in the pediatric population. The investigators treated 7 children, age 7-12, whose recurrent temper outbursts and chronic mood lability did not respond to individual/family therapy. After parents signed informed consent and children gave assent, these subjects would receive open label Depakote in doses sufficient to reach a blood level between 50-100 micrograms/ml for six weeks. The family received supportive therapy.
Who can participate
Age range
7 Years – 11 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 7-11
* Meets Screening Criteria (i.e. "Explosive Mood Disorder") A) An explosive temper as evidenced by four or more outbursts of rage, property destruction or fighting per month on minimal provocation B) Mood lability as evidenced by multiple, daily,distinct, shifts from normal to irritable mood with withdrawn or boisterous behavior, occurring without a clear precipitant C) Duration of at least one year when not treated D)Symptoms result in impairment in two or more areas including: school, the law, family, substance use, peers, work E)Symptoms do not occur only during substance toxicity or withdrawal. F)Symptoms not confined to a single setting or context
* Parent and child willing to consent to study
* Inadequate response to an Adequate trial (8 weeks) of Psychotherapy and/or family therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
* Meets criteria for Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Childhood Schizophrenia
* Seizure or other neurological disturbance
* Pregnancy
* Moderate to severe mental deficiency
* Physical exam or laboratory results with significant abnormalities
* Active suicidal or homicidal ideation or history of suicide attempts
* Use of Barbiturates
* Unequivocal manic or hypomanic episode
* Meets criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and has not failed a trial of psychostimulants
* Meets criteria for Major Depression in prepuberty
* Sexually active females who are unwilling to use effective methods of contraception.
* Mitochondrial dis…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.