Quetiapine in the successful combination treatment of an assaultive patient with treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder.

The author relates the case study of a 38-year-old man with schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type) refractory to multiple medications. This patient had a long history of psychiatric illness and had been hospitalized at least 15 times because of aggression, hostility, and psychosis. Two separate trials of risperidone and olanzapine resulted in adverse effects, including possible neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Quetiapine, as part of combination therapy, led to substantial reductions in the patient's schizoaffective disorder symptoms and problematic behaviors. The patient tolerated quetiapine and did not experience any adverse effects. Quetiapine may be a suitable treatment option in patients with schizoaffective disorder.