Reduction in hospital stay of chronic schizophrenic patients after long-term clozapine treatment.
The present study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of clozapine treatment in reducing the disabling period of chronically ill schizophrenic patients by investigating their rehospitalization status. Of 232 schizophrenic patients with a history of clozapine use who were recruited from the clinic at Seoul National University Hospital, 117 were selected who had been followed up for more than 1 year with respect to rehospitalization. To obtain information about the period before the clozapine change, a chart review of these 117 patients was conducted. The number and length of hospitalizations of the patients significantly decreased after clozapine treatment compared to the same period before clozapine treatment. The hospital days per year of the patients were also decreased significantly after clozapine introduction. By analysing 38 patients who were followed up for more than 5 years, it was suggested that the decrease in the number and length of hospitalizations was substantially sustained for up to 5 years after clozapine treatment. This study showed that the number and length of hospitalizations are significantly decreased by long-term clozapine treatment and that this effect can positively affect the social outcome of schizophrenic patients.
Ahn
Yong Min
YM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chongno-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Chang
Jae Seung
JS
Kim
Yeni
Y
Lee
Kyu Young
KY
Kim
Jong Hoon
JH
Kim
Seong Chan
SC
Maeng
So Jin
SJ
Kim
Yong Sik
YS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine