Clozapine: a 2-year open trial in Parkinson's disease patients with psychosis

Neurology. 1994 Mar;44(3 Pt 1):544-6. doi: 10.1212/wnl.44.3_part_1.544.

Abstract

We treated 17 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) complicated by psychosis with the atypical antipsychotic drug, clozapine, for 6 to 24 months (mean, 15 months) in a prospective, open-label trial. At 3-month intervals we evaluated patients, using a simplified brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (PRS), the motor examination portion of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Mean PRS score was significantly improved when compared with baseline over 1 year (p < 0.01) and nonsignificantly improved for the second year. We maintained the levodopa dose at levels that were 17 to 68% higher than baseline, and the mean motor examination score improved by 11 to 22% in the first 15 months. Clozapine dosage utilized in the trial ranged from 6.25 mg every other day to 150 mg/d. Adverse effects, including sedation and confusion, were common. These results demonstrate that clozapine therapy can be effective in treating psychosis in PD patients over 1 to 2 years. The decline in efficacy in the second year was most likely related to an increase in daily levodopa dose, progression of dementia (illustrated by a decline in MMSE score), and an inability of PD patients to tolerate higher doses of clozapine.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology

Substances

  • Clozapine