Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness

North Carolina Clozapine Network

MAHEC is the western hub of the North Carolina Clozapine Network (NCCN). The purpose of the NCCN is to increase clozapine use across North Carolina. The NCCN was founded by the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health to help decrease barriers to clozapine use.

Clozapine treatment for schizophrenia has consistently demonstrated superior outcomes in several measures, including improvement in quality of life and functioning, decreased symptoms, number of psychiatric hospitalizations, and mortality. Despite these clear advantages, clozapine remains vastly underutilized nation- and state-wide. According to North Carolina Medicaid data, only about 1 in 6 individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in North Carolina are prescribed this evidence-based treatment.

NCCN provides consultation with both psychiatrists and internists for clinicians wishing to start their patients on clozapine or who have patients who are on clozapine and are experiencing side effects. MAHEC is available for clinicians in Western North Carolina who would like to have patients start clozapine. Our clozapine clinic can start patients on clozapine and refer them back to their referring psychiatrist or take referrals for patients who need ongoing treatment with clozapine.