Psychosis Treatment Optimization Program (PTOP)

Psychosis treatment optimization program (PTOP) is a community-based program that works with people who are taking Clozapine to manage treatment-resistant psychosis.

Clients of the program have typically tried at least two other anti-psychotic medications with poor symptom resolution before trying Clozapine as a medication treatment. About one-third of all individuals that have psychosis will not respond well to certain antipsychotic medications. If a person does not respond well to two different antipsychotic medications, they are considered to be treatment resistant.

Being treatment resistant to psychosis means the clients often continue to have symptoms such as hearing voices, believing people are trying to hurt them, and/or having trouble thinking and communicating even when on medication. These symptoms can impact their ability to have good relationships, work, or go to school.

Clients can expect:

• Support the initiation of Clozapine medication therapy in community setting, if appropriate.
• Clozapine blood work monitoring and support mitigating any side effects or lab work alerts.
• Ongoing support for primary care providers (i.e., family doctors and nurse practitioners in the community) related to Clozapine and blood work monitoring.
  • Some examples of support provided are Clozapine vendor registration updates and referrals to vendor specialists such as hematologists and cardiologists.

See office locations below for contact information, each location serves the following areas:

• Burnaby: Burnaby and New Westminster
• Delta: Delta, White Rock, South Surrey and Langley
• Port Coquitlam: Port Moody, Anmore, Belcarra, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge
• Mission: Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz
• Surrey: Surrey