Typical therapeutic Depakote blood level for mood-disordered kids is 80 or 90, but some kids require as high as 100 to 125. Of course, clinical response also matters a great deal. When my kids got to a high dose (1000 mg -- blood level 125), they became more irritable and depressed.
If depression is still an issue for your difficult child, you might want to ask the psychiatrist about Lamictal. It's been a great medication for two of my kids, and we're considering putting the third on it as well.
