[Factors affecting regularity of counseling and/or medication in schizophrenics in an outpatient setting]

The author investigated a number of factors which affect regularity of counseling and/or medication in schizophrenics in an out-patient setting. A hundred and forty eight schizophrenic out-patients at a psychiatric hospital in Yamagata were examined over a period of three years. The factors consisted of age, sex, family setting, profession, place of residence, financial status, utilization of the aftercare system, insight about their illness and attitude towards drug therapy. Most of the patients maintained good levels in the regularity of counseling and/or medication and their attitude towards therapy was unchanged throughout the course. On the other hand, there is a statistically significant difference between the regularity of counseling and/or medication one month before readmission and at other times. Good levels in regularity is associated with such factors as being male, being single, working conditions, financial status, insight about their illness, positive attitude towards drug therapy and utilization of aftercare system. We had great difficulty in improving the regularity of counseling and/or medication among those schizophrenic patients. But intensive intervention such as enrolling in a day care system could have a favourable effect on the regularity of counseling and/or medication. It may be of benefit in the future to promote further development of such support systems.