Dose related response to clozapine in a state psychiatric hospital population : a naturalistic study

After noting a striking difference in the dosing practices of two treating psychiatrists, each responsible for the operation of a clozapine unit in a state psychiatric hospital, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review to assess the clinical efficacy of low dose x = 294 mg. per day) versus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychiatric quarterly 1996, Vol.67 (1), p.65-74
Main Authors: GORDON, B. J, MILKE, D. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Clozapine - administration & dosage
Clozapine - therapeutic use
Cohort Studies
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Hospitalization
Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis
Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy
Retrospective Studies
Schizophrenia - diagnosis
Schizophrenia - drug therapy
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:After noting a striking difference in the dosing practices of two treating psychiatrists, each responsible for the operation of a clozapine unit in a state psychiatric hospital, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review to assess the clinical efficacy of low dose x = 294 mg. per day) versus high dose (x = 525 mg. per day) clozapine treatment for a cohort of 31 inpatients. Levels of psychopathology, behavior, and social functioning were assessed six months pre and during clozapine treatment for 16 patients who received low dose clozapine treatment and 15 patients who received high dose clozapine treatment. Patients on both units demonstrated significant reductions in their levels of psychopathology, improved social functioning and improvement in their behavior following six months clozapine treatment. This naturalistic study suggests that the use of low dose clozapine provides effective treatment for chronic, severely treatment resistant inpatients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective illness, at the same time reducing the potential for significant side effects.
ISSN:0033-2720
1573-6709
DOI:10.1007/BF02244276