Clozapine in community practice: a 3-year follow-up study in the Australian Capital Territory

This paper aims to present the first data on the long-term use of clozapine in an entire cohort of patients encountered in a community, the Australian Capital Territory. It examines the clinical and financial outcomes 3 years after the prescription of clozapine to a cohort of 37 patients.

Experience during the 2 years before clozapine was prescribed was compared with experience in the following 3 years on the basis of a retrospective review of official records. Data included hospital and hostel bed use and an estimate of treatment costs. In addition, changes in living circumstances and employment status were assessed and treating psychiatrists reported the presence of side effects and their impressions of clinical change since clozapine was prescribed.

Compared with the preclozapine period, there were significant reductions postclozapine in hospital admissions (year 3) and hospital bed-days (year 2) by the total cohort and in hospital bed-days and hospital expenditure for those patients (n = 25) who remained on clozapine (years 2 and 3). There was no significant increase or decrease postclozapine in the estimated combined cost of treatment attributable to bed use (hospital or hostel), clozapine tablets, blood monitoring, and the employment of a Clozapine Coordinator. Clinically, all patients who stayed on clozapine were reported to be moderately or markedly improved. Five of nine patients who were not taking clozapine at study's end were unimproved or deteriorated.

The findings of significant clinical improvement without evidence of increased cost lend support for the selective use of clozapine in community practice.