Arch Gen Psychiat
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Behavioral efficacy of haloperidol and lithium carbonate. A comparison in hospitalized aggressive children with conduct disorder.
The efficacy and safety of haloperidol, lithium carbonate, and placebo were critically assessed in 61 treatment-resistant, hospitalized children aged 5.2 to 12.9 years with diagnoses of conduct disorder, aggressive type. In this double-blind and well-controlled study, the optimal dosages of haloperidol ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 mg/day and those of lithium carbonate from 500 to 2,000 mg/day. ⋯ Both haloperidol and lithium carbonate were found to be significantly superior to placebo in decreasing behavioral symptoms. Although both medications were clinically effective, haloperidol was associated more often with untoward effects than was lithium carbonate.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Cognitive effects of lithium carbonate and haloperidol in treatment-resistant aggressive children.
The effects of lithium carbonate and haloperidol on cognition were examined in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 61 treatment-resistant, hospitalized school-aged children. They all had a DSM-III diagnosis of conduct disorder-- undersocialized , aggressive, with a profile of highly explosive and aggressive behavior. Children were assessed at the end of a two-week placebo-baseline period and again after four weeks of treatment. ⋯ Haloperidol (mean dose, 2.95 mg/day) caused significant decreases in Porteus Maze test quotient scores and a slowing of reaction time (RT) on a simple RT task. Lithium carbonate (mean dose, 1,166 mg/day) adversely affected qualitative scores on the Porteus Maze test. No significant treatment effects were found for the Matching Familiar Figures Test, short-term recognition memory and concept attainment tasks, or the Stroop Test.