CONCLUSIONS This review provides some support to the notion that patients experiencing antipsychotic side-effects are at risk of developing more negative attitudes toward medication .
BACKGROUND Antipsychotics are associated with a wide range of side-effects .
Many patients experience antipsychotics as unpleasant and something they would rather avoid , leading some of them to discontinue taking their medication .
The importance of evaluating the patients ' perspective , especially their attitudes toward medication in the presence of side-effects , has long been emphasized .
However , no definite conclusion has been made to date on the relationship between antipsychotic side-effects and attitudes toward medication .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this systematic review was to determine the best available evidence regarding the impact of antipsychotic side-effects on attitudes toward medication in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders , which include schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorders .
SEARCH STRATEGY The search aim ed to find published studies using a range of data bases .
Switching clozapine responders to olanzapine.
BACKGROUND Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the management of severely ill patients with schizophrenia who have failed to respond adequately to st and ard drug treatment . The significant risk of agranulocytosis and seizure associated with clozapine has led to the restrictions in its use . Additionally , drug-induced sedation , sialorrhea , enuresis , and weight gain are often cited as problematic consequences of clozapine treatment . Our primary objective was to determine the effectiveness and safety of a method of slow cross-titration from clozapine to olanzapine among patients responsive to clozapine treatment but experiencing medication-induced adverse events . METHOD Changes in symptomatology , mood , subjective response , and safety were examined in 20 out patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who converted from clozapine to olanzapine .  Patients were considered clozapine-responsive as evidence d by improved social function and decreased symptoms with clozapine therapy ; however , they were interested in alternative pharmacologic treatment because of clozapine-related side effects . RESULTS Equivalent efficacy of olanzapine to clozapine was found in 90 % of the patients ( 18/20 ) in the study group , without rehospitalization or suicidal behavior in any of the patients . Also notable was a reduction in drug-induced side effects and improved subjective response to pharmacotherapy . CONCLUSION The successful conversion from clozapine to olanzapine has the potential to provide great benefits for the patient , including reducing drug-induced side effects while maintaining symptom control . These preliminary results suggest that further research on converting clozapine responders to olanzapine is warranted
CONCLUSIONS This review provides some support to the notion that patients experiencing antipsychotic side-effects are at risk of developing more negative attitudes toward medication .
BACKGROUND Antipsychotics are associated with a wide range of side-effects .
Many patients experience antipsychotics as unpleasant and something they would rather avoid , leading some of them to discontinue taking their medication .
The importance of evaluating the patients ' perspective , especially their attitudes toward medication in the presence of side-effects , has long been emphasized .
However , no definite conclusion has been made to date on the relationship between antipsychotic side-effects and attitudes toward medication .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this systematic review was to determine the best available evidence regarding the impact of antipsychotic side-effects on attitudes toward medication in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders , which include schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorders .
SEARCH STRATEGY The search aim ed to find published studies using a range of data bases .