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Clozapine and obsessions in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
L de Haan1, D H Linszen, R Gorsira
1Department of Psychiatry, Adolescentclinic, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
The increase or emergence of obsessions was compared in young patients with recent-onset schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders taking clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs.
Method:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Subjects were 121 consecutively admitted patients diagnosed with DSM-III-R schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. Obsessions were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria.
Results:
More clozapine-treated subjects (20.6%) than subjects treated with other antipsychotic drugs (1.3%) experienced an emergence or increase of obsessions (p<.01).
Conclusion:
Use of clozapine is associated with the emergence or increase of obsessions in early-phase schizophrenia.