Valproate in dementia: time to move on? Commentary on…Cochrane Corner

Abstract

Baillon et al ’s Cochrane review included 430 participants with agitation in dementia from five randomised controlled trials. Overall, the reviewers found that valproate was no better than placebo for the treatment of agitation in people with dementia; however, the quality of the studies included was very variable. Adverse effects and events were higher in the treatment group compared with the controls, although these finding were largely based on low-quality data with incomplete reporting; thus, valproate’s safety profile is of concern. This review demonstrates that there is insufficient evidence to change current treatment guidelines.