Effect of Clozapine on the Quality of Life in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenic Patients.
- Author:
Eun Kyung KIM
1
;
Kyung Ran SEO
;
Chang Young YOON
Author Information
1. Department of General Psychiatry, Seoul National Mental Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Treatment-resistant schizophrenia;
Clozapine;
Quality of life
- MeSH:
Clozapine*;
Humans;
Prospective Studies;
Quality of Life*;
Schizophrenia
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
1999;38(6):1447-1458
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This prospective study was performed to determine effects of clozapine treatment on the quality of life of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Subjects were 18 patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Patient's PANSS, BPRS and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale was assessed at 9 time points: baseline, the 2th, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 16th, and 20th weeks of treatment. We chose to use the Quality of Life Scale (QLS) developed by Heinrichs and associates to evaluate the effect on the quality of life. The QLS was scaled at every month of treatment. RESULTS: Eighteen of twenty-three patients completed the five months trial of clozapine. Three PANSS factors (positive, negative, general) and BPRS total scores showed a significant improvement at the fifth month of clozapine treatment. The adverse effects of clozapine did not show a significant improvement. After five months of clozapine treatment, there were an increase of 52.69% in the total QLS score and a significant improvement of two QLS factors (interpersonal relations, intrapsychic foundation). Particularly two PANSS factors(negative, general) had a significant correlation with the QLS score. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that clozapine treatment has a positive effect on quality of life of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.
