Clozapine for treatment-resistant agitation in dementia

J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2007 Sep;20(3):178-82. doi: 10.1177/0891988707303335.

Abstract

Few studies have examined the potential role of clozapine in treatment of agitation in dementia patients who have previously failed to respond to standard pharmacotherapy. We conducted a systematic chart review of all elderly patients admitted to our inpatient unit between 2001 and 2004. Of them, 16 dementia patients were treated with clozapine for treatment-resistant agitation, and their charts were blindly rated by 3 clinicians on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale, Brief Agitation Rating Scale (BARS), and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form (CMAI-SF). Overall, clozapine therapy seemed beneficial in treatment-resistant agitation in dementia patients.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clozapine / adverse effects
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use*
  • Dementia / complications*
  • Dementia / psychology
  • Drug Resistance*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods
  • Geriatric Assessment / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychomotor Agitation / complications*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / psychology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine