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Clozapine is regarded as the “gold standard” for treating schizophrenia, one of the most disabling of psychiatric diseases. The second-generation antipsychotic is the only medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating individuals with schizophrenia whose symptoms do not respond to other treatments. It is also the only medication approved by the FDA for the prevention of suicide and aggressive and violent behavior.
Clozapine for Treating Schizophrenia: A Comparison of the States utilized Medicaid prescription data in 44 states from 2006-2009 and pharmacy prescription data in all the states for 2009-2011 to compare usage as a measure of states’ efforts to treat individuals with schizophrenia. Because clozapine is typically prescribed by psychiatrists, the distribution of psychiatrists by state was also analyzed.