The purpose of this study was to examine whether elderly chronic
schizophrenia or
schizoaffective disorder patients would clinically improve if switched to
olanzapine from previous
neuroleptic treatment. Twenty-one hospitalized patients, aged 6088 yr, with a diagnosis of chronic
schizophrenia or
schizoaffective disorder who were being treated with typical
neuroleptic medication were switched to
olanzapine. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) Scale were completed while patients were on their previous medication regimen and again 6 months after the last patient had been started on
olanzapine. The mean
duration of treatment was 289 d (S.D.=139). Three patients discontinued the medication. Mean end dose of
olanzapine was 12.9 mg (S.D.=5.7). Paired sample t tests were used to test change on PANSS Positive, Negative and Total scales, CGI, GDS and
body weight. PANSS (Positive, p=0.002; Negative, p=0.003; General, p=0.003; and Total, p=0.000) and CGI (p=0.000) but not the GDS (p=0.67) demonstrated statistically significant improvement. There was no significant change in
body weight (p=0.61). Elderly patients with aggravation of chronic
schizophrenia showed improvement after being switched to
olanzapine with no
weight gain. Clinically meaningful change was observed in positive and negative psychotic symptomatology but not in depressive symptoms.