Therapeutic effects of clozapine on tardive dyskinesia

Neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD) negatively impacts the quality of life for persons with schizophrenia. While no satisfactory treatment is available for TD, a growing body of literature suggests the efficacy of clozapine in reducing TD. This paper describes the efficacy of clozapine in reducing TD in relation to the variables of treatment duration and dosage. Eighteen schizophrenic patients were categorized as with and five as without probable TD, and a pattern of reversible decrease in severity of TD on higher doses was found. The importance of this information for behaviorally oriented psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses who work with the serious mentally ill is emphasized because of their strong scientific training and their roles as treatment team leaders, behavioral clinicians need to understand these new findings and disseminate them to mental health treatment teams. Combining this information with cognitive and behavioral interventions should lead to improved outcomes, less serious side effects, and improved quality of life for schizophrenic and schizoaffectively disordered patients.