Ethnic disparities in clozapine prescription for service-users with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT: Clozapine is the only licenced medication for treating treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Previous studies have suggested unequal rates of clozapine treatment by ethnicity among individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. One previous review has investigated this topic but was restricted to studies from the USA. This current review aims to synthesise the international literature regarding ethnic disparities in clozapine prescription amongst individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. We searched CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Embase, APA PsycINFO and Open Grey and reviewed studies reporting on the proportion of service-users prescribed clozapine separately for different ethnic groups, in individuals with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or any schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

SUBMITTER: Ventura AMB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9527670 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature