Valproic acid schizophrenia

Ko GN, Korpi ER, Freed WJ, et al. Effect of valproic acid on behavior and plasma amino acid concentrations in chronic schizophrenia patients. Biol Psychiatry 1985 20 199-228. 

Antipsychotic drugs are also indicated for schizoaffective disorders, which share characteristics of both schizophrenia and affective disorders. No fundamental difference between these two diagnoses has been reliably demonstrated. They are part of a continuum with bipolar psychotic disorder. The psychotic aspects of the illness require treatment with antipsychotic drugs, which may be used with other drugs such as antidepressants, lithium, or valproic acid. The manic phase in bipolar affective disorder often requires treatment with antipsychotic agents, although lithium or valproic acid supplemented with high-potency benzodiazepines (eg, lorazepam or clonazepam) may suffice in milder cases. Recent controlled trials support the efficacy of monotherapy with atypical antipsychotics in the acute phase (up to 4 weeks) of mania, and olanzapine and quetiapine has been approved for this indication. 

A patient with schizophrenia developed a confusional state and was initially treated for non-convulsive seizures until the serum valproic acid concentration test showed acute intoxication [404 ]. 

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