Family Involvement and Better Patient Insight May Improve Patient Adherence

Participants were enrolled with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis of schizophrenia (n=84) or schizoaffective disorder (n=28) based on a Structured Clinical Interview (SCID).

Assessment of medication adherence, clinical information, cognition related to illness, cognitions and attitudes toward medication, and perceptions of family and treating physician were conducted at admission, discharge, and following discharge at 3 and 6 months.

• The Visual Analog Scale was used to assess adherence, which was rated by participants, relatives, and treating physicians.

Reference:
Baloush-Kleinman V, Levine SZ, Roe D, Shnitt D, Weizman A, Poyurovsky M. Adherence to antipsychotic drug treatment in early-episode schizophrenia: a six-month naturalistic follow-up study. Schizophr Res. 2011; 130(1-3): 176-181.