THE EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF DIVALPROEX SODIUM IN ELDERLY DEMENTED PATIENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL DISTURBANCES

Behavioral disturbances are commonly encountered in elderly demented p atients. The records of all patients admitted to a geropsychiatric inp atient unit within a 2-year period who had a primary diagnosis of deme ntia and an accompanying behavioral disturbance treated with divalproe x sodium were reviewed. Of the 13 patients identified, all tolerated d ivalproex sodium without significant side-effects. General psychiatric symptoms, overall agitation, physical aggression and non-aggressive p hysical agitation decreased significantly, but verbal agitation did no t. Divalproex sodium is well tolerated and may be effective in amelior ating certain behavioral disturbances in elderly demented patients wit h agitation. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.