Divalproex in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal

The present study represents an open-label clinical trial comparing treatme nt with a benzodiazepine (lorazepam) to divalproex in 11 inpatients with un complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The trial used the Clinical Instit ute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) scale. There were n o significant differences in demographics or substance use parameters betwe en the divalproex group (n = 6) or the lorazepam group (n = 5). A significa nt Group x CIWA-Ar score interaction [F(8,72) = 2.57, p less than or equal to .01] was confirmed and further substantiated by a quadratic trend compon ent for the interaction [F(1,9) = 24.9, p less than or equal to .001]. This preliminary study supports further investigation of divalproex in the trea tment of alcohol withdrawal.