CLOZAPINES EFFECTIVENESS FOR PATIENTS IN STATE HOSPITALS - RESULTS FROM A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

In our study, we examined the effectiveness of clozapine and compared it to the array of medication alternatives typically used in the publi c sector, Long-term patients in Connecticut's state hospitals who met Food and Drug Administration criteria for clozapine use were invited t o participate in this randomized open-label study, Participants (N=227 ) were followed for 2 years, Compared with usual care, clozapine was a ssociated with significantly greater reductions in side effects, disru ptiveness, and hospitalization, but was not more effective in reducing symptoms or improving quality of life, The groups did not differ in l ikelihood of being discharged; however, once discharged, clozapine pat ients were less likely to be readmitted, The results of our study sugg est that, compared with the flexible range of medication alternatives available, clozapine is an effective agent, However, at least with thi s patient population, clozapine did not produce the dramatic improveme nts in symptomatology or hospital utilization reported in clinical eff icacy trials or suggested by mirror-image studies.