First Episode Schizophrenia and Cannabis-Related Disorder Study
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Many individuals with schizophrenia abuse cannabis at the onset of their illness, portending
a poorer course of illness and poorer treatment response. Preliminary evidence suggests that
clozapine may uniquely reduce substance use in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of
this study is to establish an effective methodology for studying early treatment with
clozapine in patients with co-occurring schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder, while
generating pilot data comparing clozapine vs. risperidone on substance use, psychiatric
symptoms, side effects, and treatment discontinuation.