["Rather overweight and mentally present...". Patients evaluate clozapine]

Subjective evaluations by schizophrenic patients of clozapine treatment were assessed as part of an exploratory study.

A problem-centred interview was carried out with 80 patients at discharge from in-patient or day hospital treatment.

In addition to expected effects (improvement or stabilisation of one's state of mental health, antipsychotic effects), patients surprisingly often highlighted clozapine's calming and relaxing effect as well as improved sleep as particularly positive. While more than half of the respondents expected a worsening of their condition in case they stopped taking their medication, only every fifth patient feared a relapse. Among the negative effects, fatigue and sedation were cited by far the most often. The absence of extrapyramidal side effects was clearly noted as an advantage of clozapine. Only every tenth of those questioned was aware of the risks for the haemotopoietic system associated with the drug. With regard to the obligatory blood tests, a surprisingly large number of patients was indifferent or stated that they had no opinion on the matter.

Possible implications for patient information and compliance will be discussed.