Behavioral disturbances are commonly encountered in elderly demented patients. The records of all patients admitted to a geropsychiatric inpatient unit within a 2-year period who had a primary diagnosis of dementia and an accompanying behavioral disturbance treated with divalproex sodium were reviewed. Of the 13 patients identified, all tolerated divalproex sodium without significant side-effects. General psychiatric symptoms, overall agitation, physical aggression and non-aggressive physical agitation decreased significantly, but verbal agitation did not. Divalproex sodium is well tolerated and may be effective in ameliorating certain behavioral disturbances in elderly demented patients with agitation.