Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

CG155/5

Question

What is the clinical effectiveness of clozapine for children and young people with schizophrenia with symptoms unresponsive to antipsychotic medication and psychological treatment combined?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

The suggested programme of research would need to test out, using an adequately powered, randomised controlled design, the likely benefits of using clozapine, compared with another antipsychotic, for children and young people with symptoms of schizophrenia unresponsive to antipsychotic medication and psychological treatment combined. The outcomes considered should include quality of life, symptomatic and functional improvements, treatment acceptability, side effects and length of hospitalisation. Why this is important:- Currently, about 30% of people with schizophrenia have symptoms that do not respond adequately to treatment with an antipsychotic. Although precise figures are unavailable, especially for children and young people, smaller percentages of people do not respond when a second, alternative, antipsychotic and an adequate course of psychological treatment have been tried. For these people, clozapine, which has a different dopamine receptor subtype blocking profile from other antipsychotics, has become an important treatment option in adults. However, evidence is lacking (only one study) about the effectiveness of clozapine for 'treatment-resistant schizophrenia' in children and young people.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people: recognition and management

Number

CG155

Date issued

January 2013

Other details