Initiating clozapine treatment service and characteristics of clozapine-treated patients in a general hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract
At least one-third of patients with schizophrenia suffer from treatment-resistant schizophrenia needing treatment with clozapine. This is the first report on the experience of initiating clozapine service in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to report the experience of setting up clozapine service and describe characteristics of patients treated with clozapine. This study was conducted in a general hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Descriptive summary of the clozapine treatment service and review of characteristics of patients treated with clozapine were conducted. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale and Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) score were used to measure outcome. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. It was possible to provide clozapine treatment in a general hospital using the national guideline. During the first year of initiation of the service, a total of 22 patients were treated. The majority were men (20/22, 90.9%) and in the age group of 30-44 years (11/22, 50%). Indications for clozapine were treatment-resistant schizophrenia (15/22, 68.2%) and tardive dyskinesia (7/22, 31.8%). The average dose of clozapine was 350 mg/day. Common sid...Continue Reading
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