CLOZAPINE EFFECTS ON FORCE CONTROL IN SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

We previously reported significant differences in force control (FC) f unction between schizophrenics treated with typical antipsychotic drug s (APD) and those treated with clozapine. Clozapine treatment was asso ciated with an attenuation of the capacity for fine motor control. We now report that a test-retest study with 41 treatment-refractory patie nts confirms our earlier finding; the FC deficit is due primarily to c lozapine treatment. An additional comparison was made with 10 patients who were administered the FC test repeatedly through the initial cloz apine titration interval of 6-8 weeks. The results suggest that two di stinct clozapine effects can be distinguished, an initial transient st age characterized by 'drowsiness' and a subsequent stage with dose-dep endent emerging myoclonic features. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.