A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of divalproex sodium in borderline personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by affective instability, impulsivity, and aggression and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Since anticonvulsant agents may be helpful in such symptomatology, we compared divalproex sodium with placebo in patients with borderline personality disorder.


METHODS
A 10-week, parallel, double-blind design was conducted. Sixteen outpatients meeting Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders criteria for borderline personality disorder were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N = 4) or divalproex sodium (N = 12). Change was assessed in global symptom severity (Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale [CGI-I]) and functioning (Global Assessment Scale [GAS]) as well as in specific core symptoms (depression, aggression, irritability, and suicidality).


RESULTS
There was significant improvement from baseline in both global measures (CGI-I and GAS) following divalproex sodium treatment. A high dropout rate precluded finding significant differences between the treatment groups in the intent-to-treat analyses, although all results were in the predicted direction.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with divalproex sodium may be more effective than placebo for global symptomatology, level of functioning, aggression, and depression. Controlled trials with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Hollander
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. eric.hollander@mssm.edu
Allen
A
A
Lopez
R P
RP
Bienstock
C A
CA
Grossman
R
R
Siever
L J
LJ
Merkatz
L
L
Stein
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D014635:Valproic Acid