We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Reason for clozapine cessation.
- Authors
Pai, N. B.; Vella, S. C.
- Abstract
Pai NB, Vella SC. Reason for clozapine cessation. Objective: Approximately 30% of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia suffer from treatment-resistant or refractory schizophrenia. The gold standard for treatment of refractory schizophrenia is clozapine. However, a significant number of patients cease clozapine therapy; therefore this study explores patient's motives for cessation. Method: The motives for cessation and duration of clozapine treatment from a retrospective database of 151 patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder who had ceased clozapine once or more were reviewed, with the motives for cessation coded. The general motives for cessation were non-compliance, own decision, medical, poor response and other. In addition, the medical reasons for cessation were further codified: cardiac complications, neutropenia, fevers, other side effects and pregnancy. Results: The majority of patients ceased clozapine owing to non-compliance with medical protocols or citing their own decision. Approximately half ceased after a period of 6 months or less. Seventeen per cent of patients ceased owing to medical reasons, with the largest proportions discontinuing treatment because of other side effects or neutropenia. Conclusion: Future research should seek to further investigate why patients decide to be non-compliant and formulate their own decision to cease treatment, as this will facilitate strategies to promote adherence amongst these two groups that are potentially the most amenable to change.
- Subjects
CLOZAPINE; SCHIZOPHRENIA treatment; NEUTROPENIA; PREGNANCY; HEART diseases
- Publication
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2012, Vol 125, Issue 1, p39
- ISSN
0001-690X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01776.x