@article{ref1,
title="Clozapine for treatment-refractory schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychotic bipolar disorder: a 24-month naturalistic study",
journal="Journal of clinical psychiatry",
year="2000",
author="Ciapparelli, A. and Dell'Osso, L. and Pini, S. and Chiavacci, M. C. and Fenzi, M. and Cassano, G. B.",
volume="61",
number="5",
pages="329-334",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 24-month response to clozapine in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic bipolar disorder. <br><br>METHOD: Ninety-one psychotic patients with a principal DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia (N = 31), schizoaffective disorder (N = 26), or bipolar disorder with psychotic features (N = 34) were treated naturalistically with clozapine at flexible dosages over a 24-month period. Improvement was assessed by the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale. <br><br>RESULTS: All patients showed significant improvement 24 months from intake (p <.001). Such an improvement was significantly greater among patients with schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder than in patients with schizophrenia (p <.05). The presence of suicidal ideation at intake predicted greater improvement at endpoint. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Clozapine appears to be effective and relatively well tolerated in acute and long-term treatment of patients with psychotic bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder who have not responded to conventional pharmacotherapies.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0160-6689",
doi="10.4088/jcp.v61n0502",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v61n0502"
}