title: Agitated symptom response to divalproex following acute brain injury.
abstract: This is the largest case series (N=29) to date describing divalproex for agitation symptoms. Chart information was abstracted retrospectively for all patients who received divalproex for agitation symptoms during a 22-month period in one inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit. For 26 patients (90%), divalproex appeared effective within 7 days after a typical 1,250 mg/day dose. Most patients (93%) were discharged to their home or community sites. Divalproex appears to be an efficacious alternative to neuroleptics and benzodiazepines for alert, labile, impulsive, and disinhibited brain injury patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain Injury Rehabilitation,Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown, PA 18103-3296, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Chatham Showalter
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kimmel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014635:Valproic Acid