Psychiatr Serv 50:703, May 1999
© 1999 American Psychiatric Association
The Schizophrenia Algorithm
Leo H. Berman, M.D.
To the Editor: The article by Dr. John Chiles and his colleagues (1) in the January 1999 issue about the schizophrenia algorithm developed by the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) raises a question. Since clozapine is the final drug choice when other drugs fail, why not use it right off the bat?
I suppose one answer might be that the Food and Drug Administration has recommended it only for drug-resistant patients, but is that recommendation binding? Another reason might be the risk of agranulocytosis, but I have used clozapine with many patients, and in only one case did the drug have to be discontinued because of a drop in the white blood cell count. There are so many advantages. Why delay?
The question also arises about using clozapine in new cases of schizophrenia. It has been shown that young, first-break schizophrenic patients have a better prognosis and less danger of developing chronic illness with early treatment. The cost savings by avoiding hospitalization is another reason it might be advantageous to use clozapine as a first-line treatment. I haven't used clozapine for a newly diagnosed schizophrenic patient, but I'm not sure why. Can the authors comment?
Footnotes
Dr. Berman is a psychiatrist in Westport, Connecticut.
References
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Chiles JA, Miller AL, Crismon ML, et al: The Texas Medication Algorithm Project: development and implementation of the schizophrenia algorithm. Psychiatric Services 50:69-74, 1999[Abstract/Free Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
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J. Judge
Clozapine in Schizophrenia
Psychiatr Serv,
August 1, 1999;
50(8):
1087 - 1087.
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