Clozapine decreases the level of anxiety and aggressive behaviour in patients with therapy-refractory schizophrenia

Abstract

The effects of clozapine on anxiety and on aggressive behaviour were studied retrospectively in 103 patients with therapy-refractory schizophrenia. The symptom profile was evaluated during 1 year before and 3.4 years on average after clozapine treatment. The clinical outcome of the patients was assessed at the time of data collection. The level of anxiety and the degree of aggressive behaviour of the patients did not vary significantly during the year before clozapine treatment. Significant decrease in anxiety and aggressive behaviour was noted already after 3 months of clozapine therapy. No further significant progress could be observed after 6 months of treatment. At the time of data collection 37% of the patients had been able to leave the hospital, and altogether 70% had clearly benefited from clozapine treatment. About 20% of the patients had harmful side-effects, and 10% had discontinued the treatment. No fatal cases were observed, although two patients developed agranulocytosis during clozapine treatment. It is concluded that intense anxiety and aggressive behaviour of long duration are responsive to clozapine in at least some patients with schizophrenia.