title: The use of valproate in the treatment of mentally retarded persons with typical and atypical bipolar disorders.
abstract: The author reports five cases of bipolar disorder in mentally retarded adults that were managed by treating the patients with divalproex sodium, a valproate derivative. Two patients had chronic mania (one of whom had Fragile X syndrome), two patients had rapid cycling illness (one of whom had an autistic disorder), and one patient had a classic bipolar disorder superimposed on an autistic disorder. Four of the patients had marked responses to valproate and the fifth patient had a moderate response. Valproate blood levels were within the usual therapeutic range of 50 micrograms/mL to 100 micrograms/mL. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of valproate in the treatment of mentally retarded patients with typical and atypical bipolar disorders.
authors.affiliation: Lutheran Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Watertown, Mass.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sovner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid