COMBINED CLOZAPINE-LITHIUM TREATMENT FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER

Three adolescent and two adult patients suffering from chronic excited psychoses (either schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder) resistan t to traditional neuroleptics and clozapine were treated with combined clozapine-lithium. Improvement was assessed with the Positive and Neg ative Symptoms Scale, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clini cal Global Impressions, administered before and during combined clozap ine-lithium treatment. All patients demonstrated a significant improve ment with this combination. There was no occurrence of agranulocytosis , neuroleptic malignant syndrome or other clinically significant adver se effects, (C) 1998, Elsevier, Paris.