Demonstrating the effectiveness of less restrictive care pathways for the management of patients treated with clozapine.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of two alternative care pathways for managing patients treated with clozapine.

Method: Medical records for 90 clozapine patients managed via three care pathways were audited for a 24 month period (30 per group). The three care pathways established to manage patients prescribed clozapine include: (1) remaining in public mental health service case management; (2) transitioning to general practitioner-mental health service shared care; or (3) transitioning to private psychiatry sole care. Demographic, illness, medication compliance, service utilisation and performance on clinical outcome measures were collected in the 12 months prior to and following transition.

Results: Across both the private psychiatry and general practitioner (GP) shared care transitioned groups, only one patient had a psychiatric hospital admission in the 12 months following transition, and transitioned patients also had fewer mental health service clinician contacts. Good medication compliance, better skills of daily living, lower levels of illicit substance abuse and a lower intensity of case management history were seen in transitioned patients.

Conclusions: Transitioning appropriate patients taking clozapine to less intensive care pathways like private psychiatrists and GP shared care can be effectively achieved if appropriate supports are in place for both the clinicians and their patients.