LONG-TERM EFFECT ON OUTCOME OF CLOZAPINE IN CHRONIC THERAPY-RESISTANTSCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

Controlled clinical trials have shown that the atypical neuroleptic cl ozapine is highly effective in schizophrenic patients who are unrespon sive to conventional neuroleptic agents. The long-term outcome of cloz apine treatment was studied in 122 patients who were treated between 1 974 and 1991. The mean duration of treatment was 5.2 years. At follow- up, 74 patients (61%) were still receiving clozapine. Only 11 patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events and eight because of poor compliance. Clinical improvement was seen in 87% of patients; 40 % had resumed employment after 2 years' treatment. About one-third of patients who received clozapine for 5-10 years continued to improve du ring this time; this was probably because of a continuing process of s ocialisation. Thus, clozapine offers important advantages in schizophr enic patients resistant to conventional neuroleptics in terms of long- term efficacy and lack of extrapyramidal side-effects.