title: Cognitive effects of lithium carbonate and haloperidol in treatment-resistant aggressive children.
abstract: The effects of lithium carbonate and haloperidol on cognition were examined in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 61 treatment-resistant, hospitalized school-aged children. They all had a DSM-III diagnosis of conduct disorder-- undersocialized , aggressive, with a profile of highly explosive and aggressive behavior. Children were assessed at the end of a two-week placebo-baseline period and again after four weeks of treatment. Drug effects on cognition were mild. Haloperidol (mean dose, 2.95 mg/day) caused significant decreases in Porteus Maze test quotient scores and a slowing of reaction time (RT) on a simple RT task. Lithium carbonate (mean dose, 1,166 mg/day) adversely affected qualitative scores on the Porteus Maze test. No significant treatment effects were found for the Matching Familiar Figures Test, short-term recognition memory and concept attainment tasks, or the Stroop Test.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D010919:Placebos; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium; D006220:Haloperidol