Treatment with neuroleptics: the patient's perspective

Sixty-one acute schizophrenic patients were questioned on the effects ascribed subjectively by them to their neuroleptic medication and on their rating of neuroleptic therapy. Although negative effects ascribed to the medication outnumbered positive effects by 3 to 1, the global rating was predominantly positive. Patients approving of neuroleptic therapy reported favourable changes under medication significantly more often than patients with a rejecting attitude. There was, however, no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency with which negatively experienced effects of medication were described.