CLOZAPINE TREATMENT IN VERY EARLY-ONSET SCHIZOPHRENIA

Very early onset schizophrenic patients only partially benefit from co nventional antipsychotic treatment and are at increased risk for devel oping tardive dyskinesia (TD). Clozapine, which lacks extrapyramidal s ide effects including TD, has been proved effective for adult schizoph renic patients who are resistant to other neuroleptics. Clozapine, the refore, may offer an alternative treatment for these patients. The aut hors report four successful trials of clozapine in children aged 10 to 12 years old with schizophrenia, the youngest group reported on to da te, who were unresponsive to conventional neuroleptic treatment.