title: Predictors of noncompliance in males with first-episode schizophrenia, schizophreniform and schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many factors influencing compliance in schizophrenia have been reported in the literature. Our aim was to assess predictors of noncompliance in male patients with first-episode schizophrenia, schizophreniform and schizoaffective disorder in a naturalistic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six male patients, discharged from hospital, were included in a 1-year follow-up study. Psychopathological symptoms were assessed with positive and negative syndrome scale at admission and discharge, while extrapyramidal side effects were recorded weekly during hospitalisation using the Simpson-Angus and Barnes akathisia scales. Socio-demographic and some other variables were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients (53.6%) dropped out of treatment in the first year and 21 of them relapsed. With the Cox survival analysis three predictors of noncompliance were found: diagnosis of schizophrenia versus the other two diagnoses, positive symptoms at admission, and lack of insight at discharge. Discussion. In spite of a specific methodology and selection of only first-episode male patients, the results are in accordance with the findings of other authors. This confirms the universality of noncompliance in psychotic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-episode patients have a high dropout rate. However, in compliant patients, the relapse rate was low, and therefore special attention and compliance-promoting interventions in first-episode patients are needed.
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Hospital, Studenec 48, SI-1260 Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia. grubicvg@siol.net
authors.forename: Virginija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novak-Grubic
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tavcar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index