BACKGROUND: Support provided by family caregivers to persons with schizophrenia is a viable intervention focus to improve psychiatric medication usage. However, little is known about the relation between medication usage and family support as well as other key caregiving factors. METHOD: Family support and Expressed Emotion (EE) dimensions were tested as predictors of medication usage during a 9-month period following psychiatric hospital discharge in a sample of 30 individuals of Mexican descent with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Family instrumental support predicted higher medication usage (Odds Ratio = 4.8) in multivariate analyses that statistically adjusted for the impact of emotional support, family EE, and psychiatric status (e.g., positive symptoms) on medication usage. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that efforts to improve medication usage among Mexican American individuals with schizophrenia should take into account social supportive factors such as instrumental or directive, hands-on assistance from family caregivers.
BACKGROUND: Support provided by family caregivers to persons with schizophrenia is a viable intervention focus to improve psychiatric medication usage. However, little is known about the relation between medication usage and family support as well as other key caregiving factors. METHOD: Family support and Expressed Emotion (EE) dimensions were tested as predictors of medication usage during a 9-month period following psychiatric hospital discharge in a sample of 30 individuals of Mexican descent with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Family instrumental support predicted higher medication usage (Odds Ratio = 4.8) in multivariate analyses that statistically adjusted for the impact of emotional support, family EE, and psychiatric status (e.g., positive symptoms) on medication usage. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that efforts to improve medication usage among Mexican American individuals with schizophrenia should take into account social supportive factors such as instrumental or directive, hands-on assistance from family caregivers.
Authors: Alex Kopelowicz; Steven R López; Roberto Zarate; Mary O'Brien; Jamie Gordon; Christina Chang; Veronica Gonzalez-Smith Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: Todd P Gilmer; Victoria D Ojeda; Concepcion Barrio; Dahlia Fuentes; Piedad Garcia; Nicole M Lanouette; Kelly C Lee Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 3.084