Ralph G. DePalma Memorial TBI Clinical Strategies

A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial of Divalproex Sodium for Posttraumatic Irritability Greater Than 1 Year After Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

by Thomas Beresford, MD
Seminar date: 2/28/2023

Description: Dr. Beresford will discuss his group’s recently published treatment study on posttraumatic irritability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Posttraumatic, uncontrolled Irritability may become a chronic problem and contribute to impaired everyday function. The authors hypothesized that divalproex sodium (VPA) would improve posttraumatic irritability. The study demonstrated a lessening effect of VPA on posttraumatic irritability, p<0.03, as reported by subjects’ significant other persons. The VPA was well tolerated. Further definition of treatment efficacy and safety requires a large scale multisite trial, using a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled design that includes reports from subjects’ significant other persons.

Intended audience: Practitioners seeing and treating post-TBI persons who evidence episodes of Irritability well after the index TBI, clinical and basic scientists, families and significant others, and persons who encounter similar Irritability episodes one year or more after mild to moderate TBI.

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DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript

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