Prevalence & Prescription: Prescribing Practices of Clozapine in Australia between 2005 & 2010

Abstract

Clozapine is an anti-psychotic used to treat refractory schizophrenia. This study reviews the rates of clozapine prescription for refractory schizophrenia in a region of Australia and compares the prescribing patterns to the estimated prevalence rates of refractory schizophrenia in the region. Utilising a pharmacoepidemiological approach; the results indicated that only 8.4% of the individuals estimated to be suffering from refractory schizophrenia in the region were prescribed clozapine between 2005 and 2010, with only 4.1% continuing clozapine to the conclusion of the study. In conclusion it is evident that clozapine is widely under-prescribed in this area of Australia.

Keywords

• Clozapine
• Treatment-resistant schizophrenia
• Prevalence rates
• Australia