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An open trial of clozapine in neuroleptic-resistant childhood-onset schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

M. Turetz ,
T. Mozes ,
P. Toren ,
T. Chernauzan ,
R. Yoran-Hegesh ,
R. Mester ,
N. Wittenberg ,
S. Tyano  and
A. Weizman
M. Turetz
Affiliation:
Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel
T. Mozes
Affiliation:
Department of Inpatient Child Psychiatry, Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
P. Toren
Affiliation:
Ness Ziona Mental Health Center
T. Chernauzan
Affiliation:
Ness Ziona Mental Health Center
R. Yoran-Hegesh
Affiliation:
Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
R. Mester
Affiliation:
Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
N. Wittenberg
Affiliation:
Hebrew University, Jerusalem
S. Tyano
Affiliation:
Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University
A. Weizman*
Affiliation:
Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
*
Dr A. Weizman, Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, PO Box 102. Peta Tiqva 49 100, Israel. Fax: 973-3-924-1041
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Abstract

Background

Studies performed with schizophrenic adults who were resistant to classical neuroleptics showed improvement in 30% of the patients when treated with clozapine. Very early onset schizophrenic patients benefit only partially from conventional antipsychotics and are at increased risk of developing extrapyramidal symptoms; clozapine may offer an alternative treatment for these patients.

Method

Eleven neuroleptic-resistant children (< 13 years) with schizophrenia were treated with clozapine. Improvement was monitored during the first 16 weeks using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Clinical Global Impression. The mean clozapine dosage was 227.3 (s.d. 34.4) mg/day at the end of the 16 weeks.

Results

There was an overall statistically significant reduction in all parameters, especially positive symptoms, implying a favourable outcome. Most of the improvement occurred during the first 6 to 8 weeks. The major side-effects were somnolence and drooling (no agranulocytosis).

Conclusion

Clozapine may be a promising drug for the treatment of resistant childhood-onset schizophrenia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 507 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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