GENDER DIFFERENCES IN NEUROLEPTIC NONRESPONSIVE CLOZAPINE-TREATED SCHIZOPHRENICS

Gender differences in neuroleptic-refractory chronic schizophrenic dis order patients were examined to determine whether a superior or equiva lent antipsychotic response in women vs, men existed similar to that o f the general schizophrenic population. Sixty-nine DSM-III schizophren ic patients (47 males and 22 females) were treated with clozapine usin g a standardized medication regime. The gender differences in these ne uroleptic-nonresponsive chronic schizophrenic disorder patients differ ed from those previously observed in the general schizophrenic populat ion in that an equivalent antipsychotic treatment response in females versus males was not found. These treatment-refractory women appear to be a severely ill subgroup of female schizophrenics with distinct ons et of illness, course and treatment response characteristics.