ABSTRACT
Resistant schizophrenia is often treated with clozapine after other conventional atypical antipsychotics have failed or have resulted in intolerable side effects. Clozapine is generally reserved for secondary use due to its propensity to cause serious side effects, such as life-threatening agranulocytosis and the necessity for life-long blood monitoring. In this case report we present a 40-year-old female patient who suffered from chronic constipation and bowel infarctions after long-term use with clozapine. Although the use of this medication resulted in multiple abdominal surgeries with subtotal colonic resections, the patient's schizophrenic symptoms only responded to clozapine after several repeat failures with other medications; ultimately, she was continued on this medication.
ABSTRACT
In line with Psychiatry 2009's mission to strengthen its global presence as a leading source of evidence-based information for practicing clinicians, we are pleased to launch the new column, "Psychiatric Clinics from Around the World." This series will enable readers to become familiar with facilities around the world that provide psychiatric care. We hope you find the column interesting. We start the series with a column featuring Wilford Hall Medical Center, the flagship psychiatric facility of the United States Air Force.United States Air Force psychiatry plays a vital role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). Outside of the military, little is known about US Air Force psychiatry and the Wilford Hall Medical Center. Wilford Hall Medical Center is the US Air Force's flagship hospital and premiere psychiatric hospital. This article briefly discusses the history of Wilford Hall Medical Center and its psychiatric contributions to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
