CLOZAPINE DECREASES THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH THERAPY-REFRACTORY SCHIZOPHRENIA

The effects of clozapine on anxiety and on aggressive behaviour were s tudied retrospectively in 103 patients with therapy-refractory schizop hrenia. The symptom profile was evaluated during 1 year before and 3.4 years on average after clozapine treatment. The clinical outcome of t he patients was assessed at the time of data collection. The level of anxiety and the degree of aggressive behaviour of the patients did not vary significantly during the year before clozapine treatment. Signif icant decrease in anxiety and aggressive behaviour was noted already a fter 3 months of clozapine therapy. No further significant progress co uld be observed after 6 months of treatment. At the time of data colle ction 37% of the patients had been able to leave the hospital, and alt ogether 70% had clearly benefited from clozapine treatment. About 20% of the patients had harmful side-effects, and 10% had discontinued the treatment. No fatal cases were observed, although two patients develo ped agranulocytosis during clozapine treatment. It is concluded that i ntense anxiety and aggressive behaviour of long duration are responsiv e to clozapine in at least some patients with schizophrenia.