Efficacy Profiles of Psychopharmacology: Divalproex Sodium in Conduct Disorder

Abstract

Little is known about how deeply medication treatment penetrates different levels of the mind/brain system. Psychopathology consists of relatively simple constructs (e.g., anger, irritability), or complex ones (e.g., responsibility). This study examines the efficacy of a specific compound, divalproex sodium (DVPX), on the various levels of psychopathology, utilizing a previous study in which 71 youth with conduct disorder were enrolled in a randomized controlled 7-week clinical trial. We examined weekly slopes of “emotional cognitions” of varying degrees of complexity obtained by Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI), measuring more basic states, such as anger, depression, happiness and anxiety, and complex states, such as impulse control, consideration of others, responsibility and self-esteem. Intent-to-treat analyses showed significant associations between assignment to the active treatment and improvement in depression and impulse control. This is a rare clinical trial, which provides preliminary evidence for the different profiles of efficacy of medication treatment.

Appendix A

Questionnaire

Classifying Emotions

Here is a list of some emotional states, please help us categorize them into “Primary/Basic” and “Secondary/ Complex” emotions, if you can not decide please put a “?” in front of it. Put P for Primary and S for secondary/complex.

To help you do this lets go through the definitions of primary/basic and secondary/complex emotions.

According to Paul Ekman, primary/basic emotions are the emotions, which have evidence of universality in spontaneous expressions and in expressions that are deliberately posed and secondary/complex emotions are blends or mixes of the basic emotions.

Table 1