Pattern of clozapine use in 64 consecutive patients in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

We reviewed the pattern of clozapine use in a hospital with tertiary care facilities including those for patients with severe Esychosis and intractable ehavioural problems. Retrospective analysis was carried out for 64 consecutive patients who had been registered for clozapine therapy between 1990 and 1994. For this group of patients, clinical progress was indicated by changes in the type of treatment environment required. The patients ranged from 17 to 78 years of age. The mean dosage of clozapine prescribed was 432mg/day. Clozapine was eventually discontinued in 25 patients. The most common reason for discontinuation was intolerable side effects (13 patients). Continuation on clozapine was associated with "progress" to a less restrictive treatment setting. Demographic features did not predict compliance, continuation, or outcome.