The use of clozapine and other antipsychotics for treatment-resistant schizophrenia at the brazilian psychosocial care centers in Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil

Authors

  • Gabriela Jorge do Nascimento Médica formada pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2758-2488
  • Heydrich Lopes Virgulino de Medeiros Professor Adjunto III de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4402-5053

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2023.v13.511

Keywords:

resistant schizophrenia, clozapine, antipsychotics

Abstract

Introduction: Although Clozapine is the drug recommended for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), it is underprescribed. Objectives: To analyze the pattern of clozapine prescription and use of other antipsychotics for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in community mental health centers in Joao Pessoa. Methods: Antipsychotic prescriptions and medical records of patients with schizophrenia were reviewed. The psychiatrists of the services completed a survey on the difficulties associated with prescribing clozapine. Results: Among 381 patients with schizophrenia, 102 (26.8%) met the TRS criteria. Forty of the TRS patients (39.2%) were in polypharmacy; 25 in atypical antipsychotic monotherapy (24.6%), 3 with typical antipsychotic monotherapy (3%), and only 34 were using clozapine (33.3%). An important obstacle is the logistics required for blood counts routine. Conclusion: The most TRS patients (66.7%) was prescribed non-clozapine treatment, mostly polypharmacy, at the Brazilian Psychosocial Care Centers in Joao Pessoa.

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Author Biographies

Gabriela Jorge do Nascimento, Médica formada pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil

Heydrich Lopes Virgulino de Medeiros, Professor Adjunto III de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil

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Published

2023-07-11

How to Cite

1.
Nascimento GJ do, Medeiros HLV de. The use of clozapine and other antipsychotics for treatment-resistant schizophrenia at the brazilian psychosocial care centers in Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Debates em Psiquiatria [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 11 [cited 2025 Feb. 5];13:1-18. Available from: https://revistardp.org.br/revista/article/view/511

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