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Factors related to drug compliance adn attrition in neurotic outpatients treted with anxiolytics
Author(s) -
Persson G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1979.tb03584.x
Subject(s) - neuroticism , anxiety , extraversion and introversion , feeling , personality , assertiveness , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , distress , medicine , big five personality traits , psychotherapist , social psychology
Forty‐six outpatients with anxiety‐tension states took part in a study on the effects of anxiolytic drugs. At the first interview ratings were performed and the patients answered a questionnaire as to their experience of the consultation ( n =42). Based on follow‐up exminations after 2, 4 and 8 weeks, three groups were formed: completers, who did not experience side‐effects to be of such intensity that they changed the recommended dose ( n =15); deviators who due to side‐effects changed the recommended dose temporarily or permanently ( n =20); and attritors ( n =7). One to two years after the end of the drug study a personality inventory was sent out by post. It was returned by 35 patients. 1) Completers, deviators and attitors were similar with regard to age, education and social class. 2) They were also similar with regard to initial distress level. 3) Completers had the highest scores on scales measuring the personality traits defence of status and guilt‐feelings and on the factor index neurotic self‐assertiveness, while attritors had the lowest scores. 4) Completers, deviators and attritors were similar with regard to experience of the first consultation. 5) Patients with a more favourable experience of the first consultation reported taking lower doses of the drugs.