Informed consent and tardive dyskinesia. Long-term follow-up

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Informed Consent
• Patient Education

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for patient autonomy in treatment decisions.
• Understanding the long-term impact of informed consent on patients with schizophrenia is vital for effective care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effects of the informed consent process on schizophrenic patients' knowledge of neuroleptic medication.
• To compare the impact of a single-session versus an educational review of informed consent materials.

Main Methods:

• Patients with schizophrenia received a baseline questionnaire and information on neuroleptic medication.
• Participants were reassessed at 4 weeks and randomly assigned to a single-session or educational review group.
• A 2-year follow-up assessment measured sustained knowledge of medication benefits and risks.

Main Results:

• Both single-session and educational review significantly enhanced patients' knowledge of neuroleptic medication's benefits and risks.
• The study provides the first 2-year follow-up data on informed consent for antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia.

Conclusions:

• The informed consent process effectively increases and sustains patient knowledge regarding antipsychotic medication.
• Educational review may offer additional benefits, though both methods show positive long-term impact.