Effectiveness of clozapine and olanzapine: a comparison in severe, psychotically ill patients

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectivenessof clozapine and olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenicpatients. Either clozapine or olanzapine signifcantly ameliorated positive symptoms, but only clozapine was effective in reducinganxiety and hallucinations, while olanzapine was more effective in reducing negative symptoms, such as mannerism and posturing, blunted affect and emotional withdrawal. Olanzapine-treated patients obtained significantly higher GAF scores than clozapine-treated patients and more frequently participated in rehabilitative programmes. In conclusio, olanzapine therapy has surprisingly been shown to be more effective than clozapine in improving social and working skills.