Clozapine to prevent violent behavior in people with schizophrenia

5/7 Clozapine for the Prevention of Violence in Schizophrenia: a Randomized Clinical Trial

NIH-funded research Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res · NIH-11134582

This project compares clozapine to usual care to find out whether clozapine lowers the chance of violent acts in people with schizophrenia who are at higher risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Orangeburg, United States)
Project IDNIH-11134582 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have schizophrenia and are considered at high risk for violent behavior, the trial would randomly assign you to take clozapine or to continue usual treatment for 24 weeks. The trial runs at seven sites and plans to enroll 280 people from community outpatient settings, coordinated by the New York State Psychiatric Institute. It is open-label (you and your doctors know the treatment) but the person who rates outcomes is blind, and the main measure is the time until a violent act occurs. The team will track safety, behavior, and other clinical outcomes during the 24-week period.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with schizophrenia who are judged to be at high risk for violent acts and who can take clozapine with required blood monitoring would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without schizophrenia, those not at elevated risk for violence, or anyone with medical reasons that prevent clozapine use (such as a history of serious blood disorders or inability to undergo regular blood tests) may not benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce violent behavior and related harms for people with schizophrenia and improve safety and community functioning.

How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller and mostly observational studies suggest clozapine can reduce aggression, but a large randomized community-based trial has not yet confirmed this effect.

Where this research is happening

Orangeburg, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.