title: Neurologic factors predict a favorable valproate response in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders.
abstract: The hypothesis that neurologic factors influence the response to valproate (divalproex sodium) in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders was tested. In 115 predominantly lithium-refractory inpatients, neurologic findings were recorded, and blind raters assessed valproate response from the medical record. Patients with a seizure history were much more likely to have a robust response to valproate (70%), when compared with patients without such history (34.6%). History of head injury and abnormal electroencephalographic findings also tended to be more common in those patients with good response. Overall, the group of patients with any neurologic abnormality exhibited a significantly higher rate of good response to valproate (43.6%) than did the neurologically normal group (24.3%). Bipolar or schizoaffective patients with abnormal neurologic features may represent a distinct subtype of illness and appear to be good candidates for valproate therapy.
authors: Psychopharmacology Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Stoll
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Banov
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kolbrener
authors: P V
authors: PV
authors: Mayer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tohen
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Strakowski
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Castillo
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Suppes
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid