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BACKGROUND: To report an open trial of divalproex sodium in 10 adolescents with chronic temper outbursts and mood lability. METHOD: Ten adolescents meeting screening criteria for chronic temper outbursts and mood lability were followed for 5 consecutive weeks on open divalproex sodium treatment. Temper outburst frequency and mood swings severity at pretreatment and posttreatment were compared by using paired t tests. Subjects continued to be followed to judge persistence of response. RESULTS: All subjects showed clear improvement at 5 weeks and maintained it during follow-up while taking medication. Rapid relapse and recovery occurred in 5 of 6 patients who discontinued and then resumed medication. CONCLUSION: Divalproex sodium may be helpful in teenagers who have explosive tempers and severe mood swings, and benefits may generalize to school and family life.
Donovan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.