Successful Early Clozapine Trial in the Treatment of First-episode Schizophrenia: A Case Report
A 31-year-old man with no history of drug or alcohol use, was brought to the hospital by his parents and police. He had no history of psychiatric treatment or significant medical illness. He had good marks in high school, but he had been shy and reserved throughout his life. His mother had been treated for longstanding psychotic depression.\nThe patient studied education at college, but failed the certification exam three years in a row. He worked as a school instructor for several months; however, his parents wanted him to prepare for the examination. He became more socially withdrawn than he had been in the previous year and spent all day at home for a year. A month before his hospitalization, he was admitted to a community college to study electrical engineering, but soon began to hear commanding voices of unknown origin telling him to "build a nuclear power station and save the world." At times, he felt that his head was being controlled by someone and often stood alone muttering to himself.\nThe patient scored 110 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and his severity subscore on the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale was 6.\nThe initial diagnosis was schizophrenia. A pharmacological therapy based on the current treatment algorithm was initiated targeting auditory hallucination, delusion, autistic and aggressive behavior, and blunted affect.\nIn his first antipsychotic trial, olanzapine was administered across a low-, medium-, and high-dose range (titrated between 10 and 30 mg). However, 4 weeks after hospitalization and treatment onset, the constant, commanding hallucination persisted. Moreover, the patient had begun banging his head against the door and refused meals nearly every day. At that point, his PANSS score was 102, and only a slight clinical improvement was observed. Because of his poor treatment response to prior medication, the rising frequency and intensity of his self-injurious behavior, and the poor clinical outcome, it was necessary to switch his antipsychotic medication. A clozapine trial was started based on its high response and remission rates in first-episode schizophrenia. The patient and his family were fully informed about the benefits and possible adverse events associated with clozapine. All laboratory tests and electrocardiogram (EKG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain magnetic resonance imaging were within normal limits. No evidence of encephalopathy was found. Complete blood cell counts were monitored weekly during dose titration. Olanzapine treatment was discontinued, and we initiated clozapine at 25 mg and increased the dose to 200 mg following the recommended dose titration schedule.\nOn day 60, the patient reported experiencing few auditory hallucinations and he began socializing with other patients. Moreover, he showed marked improvement in conceptual disorganization and bizarre content of thinking (PANSS score, 70). We observed no adverse side effects or physical compromise during the treatment regime. Three months after clozapine initiation, the patient was discharged from the hospital, and his psychopathology remained stable (PANSS score, 60).\nThe patient remains on a daily maintenance dose of clozapine (200 mg), and he is living with his parents while working and continuing his college education. Despite residual emotional and passive social withdrawal, the patient accepts the necessity for treatment, which has prevented further psychiatric decompensation.