Salloum IM, Cornelius JR, Daley DC, et al . Efficacy of valproate maintenance in patients with bipolar disorder and alcoholism—a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2005;62:37–45. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Q Is valproate an effective adjuvant treatment for bipolar disorder with co-occurring alcohol dependence? ### ![Graphic][5] Design: Randomised controlled trial. ### ![Graphic][6] Allocation: Not reported. ### ![Graphic][7] Blinding: Double blind (assessors and participants blinded to treatment group). ### ![Graphic][8] Follow up period: Twenty four weeks. ### ![Graphic][9] Setting: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. ### ![Graphic][10] Patients: Fifty nine men and women aged 18–65 years with both an alcohol use disorder (meeting four of seven DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence) and an acute episode of bipolar I disorder. Exclusion criteria included: schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, non-bipolar psychotic disorder, opioid or cocaine dependence or current use of intravenous drugs, epilepsy or history of organic brain syndrome or brain injury, unstable medical conditions, and elevated liver enzymes. Women were excluded if they were pregnant or breast feeding. ### ![Graphic][11] Intervention: The intervention consisted of valproate (divalproex sodium) at a starting dose of 750 mg/day, increased until serum concentration reached 50 to 100 μg/ml. The placebo group received identical capsules twice daily. All … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArchives%2Bof%2BGeneral%2BPsychiatry%26rft.stitle%253DArch%2BGen%2BPsychiatry%26rft.issn%253D0003-990X%26rft.aulast%253DSalloum%26rft.auinit1%253DI.%2BM.%26rft.volume%253D62%26rft.issue%253D1%26rft.spage%253D37%26rft.epage%253D45%26rft.atitle%253DEfficacy%2Bof%2BValproate%2BMaintenance%2Bin%2BPatients%2BWith%2BBipolar%2BDisorder%2Band%2BAlcoholism%253A%2BA%2BDouble-blind%2BPlacebo-Controlled%2BStudy%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Farchpsyc.62.1.37%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F15630071%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1001/archpsyc.62.1.37&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=15630071&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmental%2F8%2F3%2F79.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000226250300005&link_type=ISI [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif [9]: /embed/inline-graphic-5.gif [10]: /embed/inline-graphic-6.gif [11]: /embed/inline-graphic-7.gif