Citation

Zarzar TR, Rosen DL, Mayo JP, O'Connell MG, Catlett TL, Reed JG, Williams JB, Sheitman BB. J. Correct. Health Care 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (USA), Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1089/jchc.21.02.0014

PMID

36178970

Abstract

This retrospective review examines clozapine's effects on treatment-refractory incarcerated individuals (N = 23) with recurrent thoughts of self-harm and/or self-injurious behavior. Emergent suicide risk assessments and days on suicide watch were assessed for the 3 months pre- and post-clozapine treatment. Total suicide assessments fell from 73 pre- to 14 post-clozapine, with a median of 2 assessments (interquartile range [IQR]: 1,5) pre-clozapine compared with 0 (IQR: 0,1) post-clozapine (p < 0.0001). Total days on suicide watch decreased from 104 days pre- to 32 post-clozapine, with a median of 3 days (IQR: 0,9) pre-clozapine compared with 0 (IQR: 0,0) post-clozapine (p = 0.0012). Emergency room visits and medical hospitalizations decreased substantially for all months of treatment. Clozapine treatment was associated with marked reductions in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in high-risk incarcerated individuals.

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; clozapine; prisons; self-injurious behavior