Non-Compliance With Treatment in Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia: a Study To Evaluate Possible Contributing Factors

BACKGROUND: Various factors have been associated with non-compliance with treatment in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to examine this association using standardised measures. METHOD: Compliance was determined and socio-demographic and illness variables recorded. Insight, subjective response to medication and relative's knowledge and attitude about schizophrenia were measured. RESULTS: Non-compliant patients were younger, had shorter durations of illness, had an episodic course of illness, reported side-effects less frequently, made incorrect attributions to current positive symptoms more frequently and had a more negative subjective response to medication. Key relatives of non-compliant patients were more often employed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients need to experience for themselves the merits of taking medication before accepting the need to take them long-term. Psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral interventions need to be targeted at changing attributions to current positive symptoms. The presence of a key person in the community is crucial to improve compliance.