OBJECTIVE: Partial compliance with antipsychotic medication increases relapse and rehospitalization rates in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of and factors contributing to partial compliance. METHOD: During a 10 day period in June 2004 psychiatrists working in hospitals or in private practices in Germany were asked to participate in a compliance survey. Physicians were requested to evaluate the compliance in 10 patients with schizophrenia using a questionnaire consisting of 10 questions. The frequency of unintentional and intentional partial compliance as well as patient-related contributing factors were assessed. Unintentional partial compliance was defined as the lack of drug intake on any day during the past month. Demographic data of participants were collected. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and generalized estimation equation models. RESULTS: The psychiatrists (n=699) regarded 68% of the evaluated patients (n=5729) as unintentionally partially compliant within the last month. Sixty-nine per cent of the patients were considered intentionally partially compliant in the past. The most frequently assessed patient-related factors contributing to the partial compliance were lack of insight into the need for prophylactic medication (68%), lack of insight/denial of illness (66%/63%), feeling embarrassed at taking medication every day (62%), needing someone to remind them to take their medication (62%), cognitive problems (55%), and living conditions inappropriate for compliance (46%). CONCLUSIONS: Partial compliance is a common problem in schizophrenia. Strategies to improve partial compliance derived from the contributing factors identified in the present study may include regular telephone reminders by case managers or families, adequate support in the patients' environment, use of dosette boxes, rationalizing drug regimens (e.g. once-daily dosage, monotherapy, depot medication), and psychoeducation.
OBJECTIVE: Partial compliance with antipsychotic medication increases relapse and rehospitalization rates in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of and factors contributing to partial compliance. METHOD: During a 10 day period in June 2004 psychiatrists working in hospitals or in private practices in Germany were asked to participate in a compliance survey. Physicians were requested to evaluate the compliance in 10 patients with schizophrenia using a questionnaire consisting of 10 questions. The frequency of unintentional and intentional partial compliance as well as patient-related contributing factors were assessed. Unintentional partial compliance was defined as the lack of drug intake on any day during the past month. Demographic data of participants were collected. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and generalized estimation equation models. RESULTS: The psychiatrists (n=699) regarded 68% of the evaluated patients (n=5729) as unintentionally partially compliant within the last month. Sixty-nine per cent of the patients were considered intentionally partially compliant in the past. The most frequently assessed patient-related factors contributing to the partial compliance were lack of insight into the need for prophylactic medication (68%), lack of insight/denial of illness (66%/63%), feeling embarrassed at taking medication every day (62%), needing someone to remind them to take their medication (62%), cognitive problems (55%), and living conditions inappropriate for compliance (46%). CONCLUSIONS: Partial compliance is a common problem in schizophrenia. Strategies to improve partial compliance derived from the contributing factors identified in the present study may include regular telephone reminders by case managers or families, adequate support in the patients' environment, use of dosette boxes, rationalizing drug regimens (e.g. once-daily dosage, monotherapy, depot medication), and psychoeducation.
Authors: Andrew I Gumley; Simon Bradstreet; John Ainsworth; Stephanie Allan; Mario Alvarez-Jimenez; Maximillian Birchwood; Andrew Briggs; Sandra Bucci; Sue Cotton; Lidia Engel; Paul French; Reeva Lederman; Shôn Lewis; Matthew Machin; Graeme MacLennan; Hamish McLeod; Nicola McMeekin; Cathy Mihalopoulos; Emma Morton; John Norrie; Frank Reilly; Matthias Schwannauer; Swaran P Singh; Suresh Sundram; Andrew Thompson; Chris Williams; Alison Yung; Lorna Aucott; John Farhall; John Gleeson Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2022-05 Impact factor: 4.106
Authors: Christian von Maffei; Frauke Görges; Werner Kissling; Wolfgang Schreiber; Christine Rummel-Kluge Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2015-04-30 Impact factor: 3.630