Treat the mood episode. Because the risk of violent behavior increases during an episode, the sooner mood symptoms can be ameliorated the lower the risk. In addition to the agitation and hyperactivity of mania (or sometimes depression), psychotic symptoms are important targets of violence prevention. Symptoms such as paranoid delusions or command auditory hallucinations can contribute to violent behavior, with a greater number of psychotic-like experiences associated with a higher risk of violence. Mixed states may be especially high-risk and may respond better to valproate than to lithium.