Perception towards relapse and its predictors in psychosis patients: A qualitative study

To explore in psychosis patients their subjective perceptions on the definition of relapse, the costs involved, the potential risk and protective factors for relapse, the effect of medication and the consequences of relapse.

Sixteen patients who had previously enrolled into a randomized controlled trial of medication discontinuation during first-episode psychosis were interviewed after 10 years.

Patients had a broader definition of the criteria of relapse, extending from medication discontinuation to family support. Although most agreed that taking antipsychotics is effective in preventing relapse, most have negative views on them. All patients predicted their risk of relapse to be less than 50% and they were generally optimistic about the future.

These findings have implications for development of effective medication compliance and relapse prevention programmes in psychosis.