Effectiveness of clozapine in hospitalised people with chronic neuroleptic-resistant schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Clozapine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms and facilitating discharge among patients with chronic schizophrenia who were resistant to neuroleptics was studied.


METHODS
All 169 such patients in a public psychiatric hospital were given clozapine. BPRS ratings (0-5 scale) were completed before treatment and 21 months later. Patients were followed for about 2.5 years.


RESULTS
Clozapine was discontinued in 37.8% of cases due to non-compliance, non-response, or side-effects. At follow-up 41% of clozapine recipients and 25.9% of the drop-outs were discharged and remained so, and 33% of recipients and 24.1% of drop-outs were being prepared for discharge. Longer treatment was associated with more improvement. Decline in average BPRS total scores of recipients was significantly more than drop-outs (32.7, s.d. 16.8 v. 12.1, s.d. 14.1, d.f. = 155, t = 7.5, P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Clozapine appears to be effective for treating some chronic neuroleptic nonresponding schizophrenic patients.
Avnon
M
M
Shar Menashe Hospital, Israel.
Rabinowitz
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine