Mental Health Research / 08.04.2026
A Personalized OCD Treatment Model May Deliver Better Long-Term Outcomes
Editor's note: This piece discusses mental health issues. If you have experienced suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide and want to seek help, you can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "START" to 741-741 or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Maria Tan[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com:
Maria Y. Tian, MBS
Department of Medical Education
Geisinger College of Health Sciences
Scranton, Pennsylvania
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are severe, disabling conditions that are associated with substantial economic burden. Approximately one-third of patients have treatment-resistant schizophrenia, which clozapine is the only evidence-based therapy for. Clozapine also provides unique benefits, including reduced suicide risk, aggression, and all-cause mortality. Despite this, it has historically been underutilized due to concerns over adverse effects, required blood monitoring, patient adherence, and limited clinician training. Previous research in Medicaid populations had demonstrated marked state-level variation in use, but little was known about prescribing trends in the U.S. Medicare system, which covers nearly half of individuals with schizophrenia. This study analyzed Medicare Part D data from 2015–2020 to assess national and regional trends in clozapine prescribing and to identify states with significantly different prescribing patterns.