Effect of clozapine on rates of risk incidents and functioning in female adolescents with a diagnosis of severe emerging emotionally unstable personality disorder. Issue 6 (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Oliver; Hill, Simon A.; Coleman, Rebekka; Delmage, Enys
• Is Part Of: Journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology. Volume 28:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 737
• Page End: 752
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: Clozapine -- emotionally unstable personality disorder -- borderline personality disorder -- incidents -- seclusion -- aggression -- adolescent -- adolescence; Forensic psychiatry -- Periodicals; Forensic psychology -- Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1080/14789949.2017.1319969
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-9949

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Psychotropic medication is widely prescribed for patients with emotionally unstable personality disorder, despite a limited evidence base. In adults, clozapine has been shown to demonstrate a reduction in the incidents of aggression and subsequent restraints. This study seeks to examine the effect of clozapine on the overall functioning and on the rates of incidents of aggression, seclusion and restraint, in female adolescents with severe emotionally unstable personality disorder. Methods: Routinely collected data of functioning and rate of incidents in 15 adolescent females with severe emotionally unstable personality disorder admitted to two secure adolescent mental health hospitals was compared before and after the prescription of clozapine. Results: Following the prescription of clozapine, patients in both hospitals had reduced rates of general incidents, use of restraint and use of seclusion. There was also an improvement in their overall functioning. Conclusions: This is the first case series describing the prescription of clozapine in adolescents with emerging severe emotionally unstable personality disorder, and despite limitations in the study design it provides some evidence for the use of clozapine in this specific patient group.