Initial experience with clozapine in Woodbridge Hospital

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and side-effect profile of the atypical neuroleptic clozapine in local Asian patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Patients were treated with 12 weeks of clozapine after undergoing a washout of all previous neuroleptics. They were assessed weekly on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Simpson-Angus Scale for Extrapyramidal Side-Effects.

Clinical improvement (according to criteria established a priori) at study end point was shown in 78.9% of the patients. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of the extrapyramidal side-effects at starting and end points. The mean daily dosage was 356.6 mg. The most common adverse effect was hypersalivation.

Clozapine is effective and well tolerated in local patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.