Use of clozapine in a child with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Abstract

Schizophrenia can be diagnosed in adults and requires treatment with antipsychotic medication. Clozapine is used effectively in adults with treatment-resistant schizophrenia but little is published on the use of clozapine in children. Supported by parental consent and a second opinion, standardised observations were used to chart the progress of treatment with clozapine in a child in-patient detained under mental health legislation with severe drug-resistant schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia. Sixteen months of clozapine treatment led to significant reduction of symptomatology with marked improvement in social functioning and diminished tardive dyskinesia. This case illustrates the successful use of clozapine in treatment-resistant childhood schizophrenia.