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Clozapine treatment and discontinuation in Iceland: A national longitudinal study using electronic patient records
Engelsk titel: Clozapine treatment and discontinuation in Iceland: A national longitudinal study using electronic patient records Läs online Författare: Ingimarsson, Oddur ; Maccabe, James H ; Haraldsson, Magnús ; Jónsdóttir, Halldóra ; Sigurdsson, Engilbert Språk: Eng Antal referenser: 29 Dokumenttyp: Artikel UI-nummer: 16113480

Tidskrift

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 2016;70(6)450-5 ISSN 0803-9488 E-ISSN 1502-4725 KIBs bestånd av denna tidskrift Denna tidskrift är expertgranskad (Peer-Reviewed)

Sammanfattning

Background: Clozapine is the only drug approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. There is evidence that clozapine is underutilized. Aims: To evaluate the initiation and discontinuation of clozapine at Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland and the prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy in clozapine-treated patients. Methods: The study is a part of an ongoing longitudinal study of schizophrenia in Iceland. We identified 201 patients on clozapine or who have been on clozapine by using a keyword search in the electronic health records and by reviewing their medical records. Results: Mean age at first treatment with clozapine was 37.8 years. Mean follow-up period on clozapine was 11 years. After 20 years of treatment 71.2% of patients were still on clozapine. After one year of treatment 84.4% of patients were still receiving clozapine treatment. We estimate that 11.4% of patients with schizophrenia in Iceland are taking clozapine and that 16% have been treated with clozapine at some point. Polypharmacy is common, since nearly 2/3, 65.6%, of patients taking clozapine use at least one other antipsychotic and 16.9% are also receiving depot injections. Conclusions: We need to increase the awareness of psychiatrists in Iceland with regard to treatment with clozapine, since only about half of the estimated population of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in Iceland have ever been treated with clozapine. Nearly two thirds of patients who are prescribed clozapine in Iceland remain on it long-term.