Cognitive effects of lithium carbonate and haloperidol in treatment-resistant aggressive children.

Abstract

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. Drug effects on cognition were mild. 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.

• Authors: J E Platt, M Campbell, W H Green, D M Grega
• Journal: Archives of general psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry) Vol. 41 Issue 7 Pg. 657-62 (Jul 1984) ISSN: 0003-990X [Print] United States
• PMID: 6428372 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Lithium Carbonate
• Lithium
• Haloperidol

Topics

• Aggression (drug effects, psychology)
• Child
• Child Behavior Disorders (drug therapy, psychology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Concept Formation (drug effects)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Haloperidol (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lithium (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lithium Carbonate
• Male
• Memory, Short-Term (drug effects)
• Placebos
• Psychological Tests
• Psychomotor Performance (drug effects)
• Reaction Time (drug effects)