Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Treatment of aggression with risperidone in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder: a case series.

Saxena K, Chang K, Steiner H

Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of risperidone in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder characterized by aggression and mania, despite treatment with mood stabilizers. A retrospective chart review of patients seen in an outpatient pediatric mood disorders clinic over an 18-month period was performed. Data were extracted from charts of patients who had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with aggression that was uncontrolled on a mood stabilizer; as a result, these patients had risperidone added to their regimen. Four boys (aged 7-15 years) and two girls (aged 8 and 14 years) were treated with risperidone (mean dosage, 0.85 mg/day) for 3-16 months. Aggressive behavior improved in all patients after risperidone was started and remained improved for the duration of follow-up. Other symptoms of mania also improved. Risperidone was generally well tolerated. Sedation and akathisia were reported in one patient. The addition of risperidone to a mood stabilizer may improve aggression and other symptoms of mania in pediatric patients with bipolar disorder who do not respond adequately to a mood stabilizer alone. The long-term efficacy and safety of this regimen should be evaluated in a controlled clinical trial.

Published 1 August 2006 in Bipolar Disord, 8(4): 405-10.
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