trial of clozapine in refractory schizophrenia
Last reviewed 01/2018
423 hospitalised patients with refractory schizophrenia were randomised to clozapine or standard treatment with haloperidol.
57% of clozapine patients and 61% of haloperidol patients continued with the assigned drug for the whole year.
Clozapine patients had 5.4% lower symptom scores (score 79.1 vs. 83.6, P=0.02).
Clozapine patients needed fewer days of inpatient treatment (143.8 vs. 168.1, P=0.03).
Despite a higher drug bill in the clozapine group the annual total cost was less because of the fewer inpatient days.
Reference:
- Rosenheck R. et al (1997). A comparison of clozapine and haloperidol in hospitalized patients with refractory schizophrenia. NEJM, 337, 809-15.