Clozapine prescribing for young people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Abstract

SUMMARY Clozapine is the only medication specifically recommended for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but research suggests that it is universally underprescribed, particularly among children and adolescents. This article discusses clinicians’ reluctance to prescribe clozapine for all age groups, and outlines its benefits for treatment-resistant schizophrenia in young people. It summarises guidelines on clozapine therapy for adults, including initiation, monitoring and adverse and side-effects, and describes how they can be applied to a younger population. Psychiatrists who care for younger people have consistently highlighted a wish for more learning opportunities focusing on clozapine, such as the content of this article.