FAMILY EXPERIENCE WITH POSITIVE CLIENT RESPONSE TO CLOZAPINE

To gain a better understanding of family member's subjective experienc es to their relative's positive response to clozapine treatment, a qua litative descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from 10 blood-related parents of clients who received treatment from a communi ty mental health center's outpatient clozapine clinic. All family memb ers felt that their relative had responded positively to clozapine tre atment. Effects were described as subtle yet remarkable to family memb ers. Family relationships improved as a result of the client's positiv e response, as the positive effects that the family members described largely had to do with the client's increased ability to relate to oth ers, along with an increased interest and ability to participate in so cial activities. Finally, strong family advocacy seemed to be a major factor in this sample of clients having access to clozapine.