SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF URINARY-INCONTINENCE WITH CLOZAPINE IN A SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT

There is evidence that urinary incontinence (UI) can develop without a ny organic aetiology as a direct side effect of typical antipsychotic medication. Clozapine was administered to a chronic schizophrenic pati ent with UI who was refractory to typical antipsychotic medication. Af ter various laboratory and functional tests, UI was demonstrated to be unrelated to any organic aetiology. UI was monitored throughout the s tudy as frequency (wetting the bed) per day and night. The Brief Psych iatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was also rated. Clozapine (dose-dependently ) reduced both the BPRS score and frequency of UI, which were refracto ry to trifluoperazine and sulpiride. This is the first report of a dra matic resolution of UI in a schizophrenic patient after clozapine trea tment. It is suggested that preference should be given to clozapine in such cases, since various other antipsychotic medications were ineffe ctive and in some cases worsened the existing UI.