title: A Questionnaire-based Study of the Views of Schizophrenia Patients and Psychiatric Healthcare Professionals in Japan about the Side Effects of Clozapine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is well documented that clozapine treatment causes agranulocytosis, but it can also induce drowsiness, constipation, and hypersalivation; however, these symptoms are usually less severe. It has been reported that clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia and psychiatric healthcare professionals consider different side effects to be important. The aim of this study was to assess current practice related to the side effects of clozapine in clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia and psychiatric healthcare professionals in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from January 2014 to August 2015 in Okehazama Hospital, Kakamigahara Hospital, and Numazu Chuo Hospital. Clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia and psychiatric healthcare professionals (psychiatrists and pharmacists) were enrolled in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 106 patients and 120 psychiatric healthcare professionals screened, 100 patients and 104 healthcare professionals were included in this study. We asked the patients what side effects caused them trouble and we asked psychiatric healthcare professionals what side effects caused them concern. The patients and psychiatrists held similarly positive views regarding the efficacy of clozapine. The healthcare professionals were concerned about agranulocytosis (92.4%), blood routines (61.3%). On the other hand, the patients experienced hypersalivation (76.0%), sleepiness (51.0%). A positive correlation (R=0.696) was found between patient satisfaction and DAI-10 score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients experienced more problems than healthcare professionals expected. However, usage experience of clozapine healthcare professionals tended to have similar results to patients. It is necessary that all healthcare professionals fully understand the efficacy and potential side effects of clozapine. This is very important for promoting clozapine treatment in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.|Office of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Health Care Management Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Ippei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Office of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Health Care Management Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Manako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kakamigahara Hospital, Kakamigahara, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Numazu Chuo Hospital, Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Okehazama Hospital, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Office of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Health Care Management Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamei
keywords: Clozapine; Clozapine treatment; Questionnaire; Refractory schizophrenia; Side effect