Citation

Novakovic V, Sher L. Int. J Disabil. Hum. Dev. 2012; 11(1): 5-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Nova Science Publishers)

DOI

10.1515/IJDHD.2012.010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders ever since the discovery of chlorpromazine in the early 1950s and the subsequent discovery of the group of tricyclic chemical compounds including clozapine. On the spectrum of the contemporary pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia, atypical antipsychotic agents render a signifi cant portion. Clozapine continues to play a pivotal role in the treatment of psychotic disorders, despite the emergence of new antipsychotic agents on the market. Among patients with schizophrenia, suicide is the main cause of death. Factors associated with suicide in patients with schizophrenia include previous suicide attempts, inadequate antipsychotic medication, noncompliance, substance abuse and non-response to antipsychotic medication. Clozapine reduces suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia. Clozapine has been shown to have a substantial effect on attempted suicide and completed suicide. The mode of action of clozapine in preventing suicide is not known. The various hypotheses proposed include its effects on neurotransmitters, on serum lipid levels, its antidepressant effects or the increased contact with healthcare workers during visits for blood monitoring. © 2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; Suicide; Schizophrenia; schizophrenia; cause of death; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; hospitalization; clozapine; Clozapine; review; obesity; quetiapine; patient compliance; olanzapine; risperidone; lipid blood level; dopaminergic transmission; schizoaffective psychosis; Atypical antipsychotics; ventral tegmentum; meta analysis (topic)