Clozapine: its Impact on Aggressive Behavior Among Patients in a State Psychiatric Hospital

This study evaluated the impact of clozapine aggression in a psychiatric hospital. Statistically significant reductions occurred in both seclusion & restraint during clozapine treatment as compared with the pre-clozapine period. The comparator group experienced a low rate of seclusion & restraint throughout. This study supports the emerging data on the benefits of clozapine for aggressive & violent patients with psychoses. Preliminary data suggests other 2nd generation antipsychotic agents may have similar effects. (20 refs)