When all else fails: supervised treatment in outpatient for schizophrenia (STOPS)

This was about a case of a patient requiring admission to psychiatry ward twice a year for relapse schizophrenia due to medication non-compliance. Medication adherence was previously monitored by her husband. However, following the death of her husband, she stopped treatment. The lack of insight and poor family support further contributed to her relapse. She presented with positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia during her relapse, neglecting her hygiene and oral intake. She was also found to have anaemia as a result of poor diet when she was in relapse. Community psychiatry services had attempted to ensure compliance with postdischarge plan but failed as patient was not present every home visits. Supervised treatment in outpatient for schizophrenia (STOPS) provided an alternative method to ensure compliance in this patient. Patient has remained in remission for 1 year since the use of STOPS.