Citation

Herrmann N, Lanctôt KL, Rothenburg LS, Eryavec G. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 2007; 23(2): 116-119.

Affiliation

Neuropharmacology Research Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. nathan.herrmann@sunnybrook.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000097757

PMID

17148938

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of valproate for the treatment of agitation and aggression in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of valproate in institutionalized AD patients. Patients were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment with valproate and placebo, with 2 weeks between phases to allow for placebo washout and tapering. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (8 male/6 female) aged 85.6 +/- 4.5 years with baseline Mini Mental State Examination scores of 4.5 +/- 4.6 and NPI agitation/aggression scores of 6.4 +/- 3.5 were randomized to treatment. NPI agitation/aggression treatment change scores significantly worsened during valproate treatment compared with placebo (Z = -2.03, p = 0.04). Tolerability of valproate was also poor, with patients experiencing a significantly greater mean number of adverse events during valproate therapy compared to placebo (Z = -2.82, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Valproate is not effective for the management of agitation in moderate-to-severe AD, and may be poorly tolerated in this population.

Language: en