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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Clozapine use in children and adolescents
Nitin Gogtay1, Judith Rapoport
1Montreal Neurological Institute, Canada. gogtayn@mail.nih.gov
Background:
Although the role of clozapine is well established for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, it is rarely used in pediatric populations, mainly due to its potentially serious adverse effects.
Objective:
To summarize practical aspects of use of clozapine in treating children with schizophrenia and management of associated adverse effects.
Methods:
Available studies in the literature using clozapine in the pediatric population are summarized and the NIMH experience in treating refractory childhood-onset schizophrenia cases with clozapine is discussed.
Conclusion:
Despite a higher incidence of adverse effects in children, clozapine appears to be a uniquely beneficial second-line agent for treating children with refractory schizophrenia.
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