The Development of Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Zuclopenthixol Acetate

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Abstract
Objective: This paper illustrates the process that was undertaken in the development of guidelines for the use of Zuclopenthixol Acetate (ZA) and presents the guidelines that were developed at the end of this process. Conclusions: A number of investigations were undertaken to inform the above process, including: (i) A questionnaire sent to College Fellows and psychiatric registrars, to assess their use of ZA in the management of acute arousal in psychosis. This highlighted the lack of confidence that clinicians had in using ZA and some deficits in knowledge that confirmed the local need for such guidelines; (ii) A retrospective audit of the use of ZA in two psychiatric intensive care units over a 6 month period. This revealed significant differences between the centres in the manner in which ZA was prescribed; (iii) A review of published studies on ZA.