Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Duration of a Clozapine Trial in Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia

Duration of a Clozapine Trial in Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia Abstract To the Editor.— Clozapine has been shown to be superior to chlorpromazine and haloperidol in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.1 It has not yet been approved for use in the United States, but it is available in over 100 sites on a compassionate need basis. Well over 500 patients are currently receiving it in this country. The duration of an adequate trial is, therefore, of critical importance. In the study by Kane et al,1 only 30% of patients had responded within 6 weeks of starting drug therapy. Other studies or commentaries on the use of clozapine in treatment-resistant patients have not addressed this issue.2-5We have now administered clozapine on an open basis to 51 schizophrenic patients who are comparable to the group studied by Kane et al.1,6 Sixteen (31.4%) of the 51 patients responded within 6 weeks with a 20% or more decrease in the References 1. Kane J, Honigfeld G, Singer J, Meltzer HY, Clozaril Collaborative Study Group. Clozapine for the treatment-resistant schizophrenic: a double-blind comparison with chlorpromazine . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:789-796.Crossref 2. Povisen UJ, Noring U, Fog R, Gerlach J. Tolerability and therapeutic effect of clozapine: a retrospective investigation of 216 patients treated with clozapine for up to 12 years . Acta Psychiatr Scand . 1985;71:176-185.Crossref 3. Kulia S, Merttinen E. Long-term effect of clozapine in schizophrenia: a retrospective study of 108 chronic schizophrenics treated with clozapine for up to 7 years . Nord Psychiatr Tidsskrift . 1986;40:225-230.Crossref 4. Lindström LH. The effect of long-term treatment with clozapine in schizophrenia: a retrospective study in 96 patients treated with clozapine for up to 13 years . Acta Psychiatr Scand . 1988;71:524-529.Crossref 5. Marder SR, Van Putten T. Who should receive clozapine? Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:865-867.Crossref 6. Meltzer HY, Bastani B, Kown KY, Ramirez L, Burnett S, Sharpe J. A prospective study of clozapine in treatment resistant schizophrenic patients, I: preliminary report . Psychopharmacology . In press. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of General Psychiatry American Medical Association

Duration of a Clozapine Trial in Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia

Archives of General Psychiatry , Volume 46 (7) – Jul 1, 1989

Duration of a Clozapine Trial in Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Clozapine has been shown to be superior to chlorpromazine and haloperidol in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.1 It has not yet been approved for use in the United States, but it is available in over 100 sites on a compassionate need basis. Well over 500 patients are currently receiving it in this country. The duration of an adequate trial is, therefore, of critical importance. In the study by Kane et al,1 only 30% of patients had responded within 6...
Loading next page...
 
/lp/american-medical-association/duration-of-a-clozapine-trial-in-neuroleptic-resistant-schizophrenia-peceot0WEV

References (8)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-990X
eISSN
1598-3636
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.1989.01810070098017
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract To the Editor.— Clozapine has been shown to be superior to chlorpromazine and haloperidol in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.1 It has not yet been approved for use in the United States, but it is available in over 100 sites on a compassionate need basis. Well over 500 patients are currently receiving it in this country. The duration of an adequate trial is, therefore, of critical importance. In the study by Kane et al,1 only 30% of patients had responded within 6 weeks of starting drug therapy. Other studies or commentaries on the use of clozapine in treatment-resistant patients have not addressed this issue.2-5We have now administered clozapine on an open basis to 51 schizophrenic patients who are comparable to the group studied by Kane et al.1,6 Sixteen (31.4%) of the 51 patients responded within 6 weeks with a 20% or more decrease in the References 1. Kane J, Honigfeld G, Singer J, Meltzer HY, Clozaril Collaborative Study Group. Clozapine for the treatment-resistant schizophrenic: a double-blind comparison with chlorpromazine . Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:789-796.Crossref 2. Povisen UJ, Noring U, Fog R, Gerlach J. Tolerability and therapeutic effect of clozapine: a retrospective investigation of 216 patients treated with clozapine for up to 12 years . Acta Psychiatr Scand . 1985;71:176-185.Crossref 3. Kulia S, Merttinen E. Long-term effect of clozapine in schizophrenia: a retrospective study of 108 chronic schizophrenics treated with clozapine for up to 7 years . Nord Psychiatr Tidsskrift . 1986;40:225-230.Crossref 4. Lindström LH. The effect of long-term treatment with clozapine in schizophrenia: a retrospective study in 96 patients treated with clozapine for up to 13 years . Acta Psychiatr Scand . 1988;71:524-529.Crossref 5. Marder SR, Van Putten T. Who should receive clozapine? Arch Gen Psychiatry . 1988;45:865-867.Crossref 6. Meltzer HY, Bastani B, Kown KY, Ramirez L, Burnett S, Sharpe J. A prospective study of clozapine in treatment resistant schizophrenic patients, I: preliminary report . Psychopharmacology . In press.

Journal

Archives of General PsychiatryAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jul 1, 1989

There are no references for this article.