VIOLENCE AND SCHIZOPHRENIA - CLOZAPINE AS A SPECIFIC ANTIAGGRESSIVE AGENT

Pharmacological management of persistent aggression in patients with s chizophrenia is a difficult clinical dilemma. Clozapine has been shown to be an effective agent in this regard. This study sought to compare the symptomatic response on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) between hostile schizophrenic patients and patients without aggressio n. While dramatic improvements were evident in aggression, both groups were indistinguishable with respect to BPRS response. These results s uggest that clozapine may have a selective antiaggressive effect.