Treatment of childhood-onset schizophrenia with olanzapine

This paper reports on a clinical observation of 15 hospitalized youths ages 6-13 years diagnosed with childhood-onset schizophrenia and acutely treate d with olanzapine, Initial sedation was the most common side effect observe d. Youngsters who had not had a previous trial on any psychotropic did bett er than those that had failed a previous medication trial. Age was inversel y correlated with positive response to olanzapine. Patients who experienced initial sedation did best once the initial sedation wore off. The majority of patients in the study improved on olanzapine.