Open AccessAdherence to Pharmacological Treatment Among Patients with Schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Makwan Abdul Kareem,
Hezha Mahmood
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
iraqi national journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2664-7524
pISSN - 2664-7516
DOI - 10.37319/iqnjm.4.1.4
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , antipsychotic , psychiatry , medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , medical prescription , medication adherence , aggression , clinical psychology , psychology , nursing
Adherence to medication is the range to which an individual corresponds with the prescribed medication dosing regimen. Medication non-adherence among patients with schizophrenia is extremely common issue, broadly ranging from 4% to 72%. Medication non-adherence among schizophrenic patients has serious consequences for individuals as well as the health system such as relapse of symptoms, re-hospitalization, aggression, suicide, cognitive deterioration, loss of job and arrest, victimization, and overall unfavorable outcome. Factors determining adherence are divided into medication-related as side effects, patient-related as lack of insight, illness-related as persecutory delusions, sociocultural-related such as stigma, and clinician-related factors like poor therapeutic alliance. Improving adherence is best achieved by exploring the reasons for non-adherence with appropriate management plans to deal with them. Adherence can be improved by providing basic strategies that must routinely accompany every prescription, and specific interventions like psycho-social ones, antipsychotic long acting injections, reminders, service interventions, and may be even financial incentives.