Dropout rates and reasons for dropout among patients receiving clozapine.

Background and Aim: The present study aimed to assess the treatment dropout rates, reasons for treatment dropout, and clozapine discontinuation rate among patients attending a tertiary care center in North India. Materials and Methods: Clozapine data bank was used to identify patients on clozapine, and their treatment records were reviewed for the period Jan 2020-March 2020. Patients who did not follow-up at least once in the last 6 months were considered to have dropped out and were contacted telephonically to understand the reasons for dropout. Treatment records of those following up regularly were reviewed to check if clozapine was discontinued and if so, the reason for the same was evaluated. Results: Out of 671 patients on clozapine, 495 (73.8%) were still on regular follow-up and the remaining 176 (26.2%) had dropped out of treatment. Out of the 176 patients who had dropped out of treatment, 84 could be contacted. Common reasons for dropout were long distance from the hospital ( Conclusion: About one-fourth of patients who had started treatment with clozapine dropped out from the treatment. The most common reasons for dropout from treatment included long distance from the hospital and no benefit from treatment.