title: Carbamazepine in hospitalized aggressive conduct disorder children: an open pilot study.
abstract: Ten subjects completed an open pilot study of carbamazepine in hospitalized aggressive and explosive children diagnosed as having conduct disorder. The subjects (9 boys, 1 girl) ranged in age from 5.25 to 10.92 years (mean = 8.27). Ratings were done at the end of a 1-week baseline period and after 3 weeks of treatment with carbamazepine. Ratings were carried out by multiple raters in several settings, using various rating instruments. The optimal daily doses of carbamazepine ranged from 600 to 800 mg (mean = 630); plasma levels at post-treatment rating ranged from 4.8 to 10.4 micrograms/mL (mean = 6.2). Administration of carbamazepine was associated with clinically and statistically significant declines in the target symptoms of aggressiveness and explosiveness. These results are promising and suggest that a critical assessment of the efficacy and safety of carbamazepine is warranted under double-blind and placebo-controlled conditions in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kafantaris
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Padron-Gayol
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Locascio
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine