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Haematological monitoring for clozapine: do patients know why?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Carol Paton  and
Paul Wolfson
Carol Paton*
Affiliation:
Bexley Hospital Old Bexley bane, Bexley, Kent DA5 2BW
Paul Wolfson
Affiliation:
Bexley Hospital Old Bexley bane, Bexley, Kent DA5 2BW
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

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Clozapine is effective in treatment resistant schizophrenia, but unfortunately is associated with a 3% incidence of neutropenia. Regular haematological monitoring is mandatory for all patients. We asked forty patients who had been taking clozapine for more than six months why they thought they had to have regular blood tests. Almost half did not know and only a small proportion were subject to a Mental Health Act (MHA) second opinion for consent to treatment. Initial explanations of the potentially serious side effects of clozapine may not be understood or retained. Ongoing education of patients is essential. The wider use of MHA second opinion doctors should also be considered.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 19 , Issue 9 , September 1995 , pp. 536 - 537
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995

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