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Adherence to antipsychotic medications
1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|November 5, 1999
Summary
Patient adherence to antipsychotic medication is crucial for managing psychotic symptoms and preventing relapse. Understanding patient perceptions of benefits versus costs, including side effects, is key to improving medication adherence.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Antipsychotic medication adherence is vital for managing psychotic disorders and preventing relapse.
- High rates of non-adherence are observed, with approximately 40% discontinuing within 1 year and 75% within 2 years.
Observation:
- Adverse effects are a significant factor in medication discontinuation.
- Patient's perception of treatment benefits versus costs (including side effects like weight gain) influences adherence.
- Barriers to adherence and cues to action also play a role.
Findings:
- The health belief model provides a framework for assessing factors influencing medication adherence.
- Patients perceiving treatment risks to outweigh benefits are prone to discontinuing medication.
Implications:
- Clinicians can utilize the health belief model to identify patients at risk for non-adherence.
- Interventions targeting perceived risks, benefits, and barriers can improve antipsychotic medication adherence.