A pilot study examining the profile of older people on clozapine

Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Jen BenbowBrett Simpson

Abstract

The primary aim was to comprehensively describe the characteristics of a cohort of older people taking clozapine. Participants aged ⩾ 60 had a geriatric assessment including full medical, medication and social history. Standardized screening tools for cognition, function, comorbidity and antipsychotic side effects were administered and descriptive statistics utilized. Thirteen patients were eligible to participate and 10 were assessed. The mean age was 69 years. The mean clozapine dose was 309 mg/day and mean duration of use was 10 years. All participants had executive dysfunction, and half had cognitive impairment. The mean number of co-morbid conditions was five. Seven people met the criteria for polypharmacy. Eight people experienced moderate-severe antipsychotic-related side-effects. The majority demonstrated impaired physical functioning. This cohort of older people taking clozapine experienced considerable morbidity, functional and cognitive impairment. We suggest routine screening of cognition and function in clozapine patients aged ⩾ 60 years. Those screening positive should be considered for further assessment by Older Person's Mental Health Services and/or a Geriatric Medicine service.

References

Jan 1, 1988·International Disability Studies·C CollinV Horne
Dec 13, 2000·Neurology·B DuboisB Pillon
Jun 12, 2004·International Psychogeriatrics·Joella E StoreyHugh G Dickson
Jun 11, 2008·Journal of Psychopharmacology·L Waddell, M Taylor
Sep 2, 2008·Expert Opinion on Drug Safety·Pietro GareriGiovambattista De Sarro
Jul 1, 2010·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Daniel W O'ConnorDhiren Singh
Feb 1, 2011·International Clinical Psychopharmacology·John Snowdon, Graeme Halliday
Jul 2, 2011·Aging Clinical and Experimental Research·Alessandro IavaroneAlfredo Postiglione
Mar 26, 2013·Maturitas·Anne Felicia AmbroseJeffrey M Hausdorff
Aug 29, 2014·International Psychogeriatrics·Shani PridanYoram Barak
Sep 16, 2016·Frontiers in Pharmacology·Antoine LangeardChantal Chavoix

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antipsychotic Drugs

Antipsychotic drugs are a class of medication primarily used to manage psychosis (including delusions, hallucinations, paranoia or disordered thought), principally in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Discover the latest research on antipsychotic drugs here