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Effectiveness of Clozapine in Hospitalised People with Chronic Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Moshe Avnon
Affiliation:
Shar Menashe Hospital
Jonathan Rabinowitz*
Affiliation:
Bar Ilan University
*
Dr Rabinowitz, School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Israel. Fax: 972-3-5347228. Internet: f46051@vm.biu.ac.il.

Abstract

Background

Clozapine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms and facilitating discharge among patients with chronic schizophrenia who were resistant to neuroleptics was studied.

Method

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 non-responding schizophrenic patients.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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