Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background: Childhood-onset schizophrenia is a rare but severe form of the disorder that is often treatmentrefractory. In this study, the efficacy and adverse effects of clozapine and haloperidol were compared for children and adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia. Methods: Twenty-one patients (mean [±SD] age, 14.0 ±2.3 years) with onset ofDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition—defined schizophrenia that began by age 12 years and who had been nonresponsive to typical neuroleptics participated in the study. Patients were randomized to a 6-week double-blind parallel comparison of clozapine (mean [ ±SD] final dose, 176± 149 mg/d), or haloperidol, (16±8 mg/d). Results: Clozapine was superior to haloperidol on all measures of psychosis (P=.04-.002). Positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia improved. However, neutropenia and seizures were major concerns. To date, one third of the group has discontinued using clozapine. Conclusions: Clozapine has striking superiority for positive and negative symptoms in treatment-refractory childhood-onset schizophrenia. However, due to possibly increased toxic effects in this pediatric population, close monitoring for adverse events is essential.

This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit: