OBJECTIVE: The study aim to assess the attitude of patients with schizophrenia attending out-patient clinics in Nigeria towards antipsychotic medication and examine the factors associated with such attitude. METHOD: Out-patients with schizophrenia (n = 312) completed the 10-item Drug Attitude Inventory. They were also evaluated for sociodemographic details, illness-related and drug-related variables. RESULTS: Overall, the patients had a good attitude towards antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with poor attitude towards medication include presence of symptoms, presence of side-effects like dyskinesia and sedation, lack of insight into the illness, and being employed. CONCLUSION: Special attention should be paid to patients with these factors while designing programmes to improve overall compliance in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE: The study aim to assess the attitude of patients with schizophrenia attending out-patient clinics in Nigeria towards antipsychotic medication and examine the factors associated with such attitude. METHOD: Out-patients with schizophrenia (n = 312) completed the 10-item Drug Attitude Inventory. They were also evaluated for sociodemographic details, illness-related and drug-related variables. RESULTS: Overall, the patients had a good attitude towards antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with poor attitude towards medication include presence of symptoms, presence of side-effects like dyskinesia and sedation, lack of insight into the illness, and being employed. CONCLUSION: Special attention should be paid to patients with these factors while designing programmes to improve overall compliance in patients with schizophrenia.
Authors: Dawn I Velligan; Yui-Wing Francis Lam; David C Glahn; Jennifer A Barrett; Natalie J Maples; Larry Ereshefsky; Alexander L Miller Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2006-05-17 Impact factor: 9.306