The effects of clozapine on cognitive functioning in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997 Spring;9(2):240-5. doi: 10.1176/jnp.9.2.240.

Abstract

This study examined the cognitive functioning of 10 treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients after a minimum of a 1-year trial on clozapine. Results indicated significant improvements on prorated Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Full Scale, Verbal, and Performance IQs and on the WAIS-R Similarities and Digit Symbol subtests. A trend was also found for improvement on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. It was concluded that clozapine treatment is associated with global cognitive improvements in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine treatment may also improve performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in a subset of patients. Improvement did not appear to be related to the reduction of any cognitive effects of the typical neuroleptics upon their discontinuation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clozapine / administration & dosage
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use*
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Schizophrenia / complications
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Clozapine