Objective:
This pilot, twelve-week, open-label study examined the effect
of clozapine orally disintegrating tablet or ODT in patients with
schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder utilizing Positive
and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) as a long-term outcome measurement
tool.
Methods: The final study sample consisted of nineteen subjects
who were residents a long-term care psychiatric facility in Pomona,
California. Subjects were using clozapine ODT (FazaClo®) at
the most clinically effective dosage depending on their symptoms
and at the discretion of the psychiatrist and psychopharm consultant.
PANSS were administered at baseline, week-4, week-8 and week-12.
Paired sample t-tests were used to calculate the statistical significance
of the mean differences for scores at baseline and week-12.
Results: Mean differences from baseline indicated significant
improvement on total score, as well as positive, negative, cognitive
and general psychopathology subscales after twelve weeks of treatment.
The greater average reduction in the negative syndrome subscale
across the twelve weeks possibly illustrates the ability of clozapine
ODT in improving negative symptoms, including cognitive function
which is their ability to participate in their personal care and
creative expressions in dance, arts, games, poetry to a greater
extent their overall, quality of life and living along with the
effect on positive symptoms.
Conclusion: Overall, clozapine proved to affect a broad range
of psychopathology including cognitive functions in this schizophrenic
sample.
Keywords:
Antipsychotic
Agents. Quality of Life. Treatment Outcome. United States.
