Effects of clozapine on awareness of illness and cognition in schizophrenia

Cognitive effects of olanzapine and clozapine treatment in chronic schizophrenia

“…Executive functioning showed weak evidence for improvement. In general, our findings fit well with previous data in showing cognitive improvements with clozapine and olanzapine (Gallhofer et al 1999;Keefe et al 1999;Manschreck et al 1999;Meltzer and McGurk 1999;Pallanti et al 1999;Purdon et al 2001). Given the broad pharmacological profile of these drugs, it is difficult to determine exact pharmacological mechanisms for their cognitive effects, but it is plausible that their beneficial effects, specifically on learning and memory measures, may at least in part be mediated via their targeted actions on the serotonergic and cholinergic systems within the hippocampal formation (Scarr et al 2001).…”

“…The new generation of atypical drugs, such as clozapine and olanzapine, are more effective in treating negative symptoms and produce limited EPS (Arnt and Skarsfeldt 1998). They have also been associated with improvements in cognitive functioning (Gallhofer et al 1999;Keefe et al 1999;Manschreck et al 1999;Pallanti et al 1999) independent of their effects on EPS (Weiser et al 2000).…”

A Case Review of Poor Insight in Schizophrenia: How Much Do We Know?

“…Further, insight levels improved significantly after the switch to newer antipsychotics, and more so with long-lasting, second-generation antipsychotics. 12,19,20 Unfortunately, this finding has not been replicated in more-recent literature. 8 Our patient was discharged on an oral second-generation antipsychotic and long-acting haloperidol injection.…”

“…Second-generation antipsychotics 12,20 Improve neurocognition with atypical antipsychotic medications, clozapine in particular.…”

Insight in Psychosis: A Systematic Review of Treatment Interventions

“…The other study is quite recent though also difficult to interpret since it is a crossover study [22]. In that report, clozapine was associated with improvement in insight in patients who failed a trial of traditional neuroleptic agents.…”