RESUMEN
To compar the efficacy of lithium carbonate and sodium valproate in treatment of bipolar children and adolescents in acute phase [mixed and mania] in 6 week treatment at Roozbeh hospital. A double-blind and randomized controlled clinical trial in 30 patient [8-18 years] for a 6 week trial patients were diagnosed based on DSM-IV criteria through clinical interview and K-SADS. MRS and CGAS were used to measure the severity of symptoms and the level of functional impairment patients categorized into 2 groups randomly. In both groups means of MRS decreased [at the end of 3[rd] and 6[th] weeks] and there was no significant difference between two groups. Means of CGAS had significant difference between two groups at 3[rd] week [p<0.05]. patient who received sodium valproate had more improvement in function, but it was not at end of 6[th] week. The study demonstrated the same amount of decrease in sign and severity of symptoms and the same improvement in global functioning in tow groups. It seems that the efficacy of lithium carbonate and sodium valproate in acute phase of bipolar disorder is the same greater improvement of functioning at the end of the 3[rd] week in valproate group comparing to the lithium group suggests that sodium valproate may act faster than lithium carbonate. This replicate in future research