Clozapine to reduce violent behavior in people with schizophrenia
6//7 Clozapine for the Prevention of Violence in Schizophrenia: a Randomized Clinical Trial.
This compares clozapine with usual care to try to lower the chance of violent acts in people with schizophrenia who are at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136416 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be randomly assigned to take clozapine or to continue your usual antipsychotic care for 24 weeks. The trial is open-label (you and your doctors know the treatment) but outcomes will be rated by staff who do not know which treatment you received, and it will run at seven participating sites. The team plans to enroll about 280 people with schizophrenia who are judged to be at high risk for violence and will track time to any violent act as the main outcome. Participation will involve regular clinic visits and the blood monitoring required for safe clozapine use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who are considered at high risk for violent behavior, are treated in outpatient/community settings, and are willing to take clozapine with required blood monitoring.
Not a fit: People without schizophrenia, those at low risk for violence, or anyone who cannot take clozapine or refuses the necessary blood tests are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower violent behavior, improve safety and clinical outcomes, and help guide use of clozapine in community care.
How similar studies have performed: Several observational and small trials have suggested clozapine can reduce aggression, but large randomized outpatient trials confirming effects on violent acts are lacking.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kopelowicz, Alex J — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Kopelowicz, Alex J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.