title: Compliance therapy: a randomised controlled trial in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of "compliance therapy" for improving adherence to prescribed drug treatment among patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban catchment area psychiatric service.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 consecutive admissions of patients with schizophrenia, 56 agreed to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compliance therapy and non-specific counselling, each consisting of 5 sessions lasting 30-60 minutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compliance with drug treatment at one year; attitudes to treatment, symptomatology, insight, and quality of life at one year; length of "survival" in the community, bed days, and rehospitalisation rates at two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compliance therapy did not confer a major advantage over non-specific therapy in improving compliance at one year (43% (12/28) v 54% (15/28), difference -11% (95% confidence interval -37% to 15%) or in any of the secondary outcome measures-symptomatology, attitudes to treatment, insight, global assessment of functioning, and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance therapy may not be of benefit to patients with schizophrenia. Attitudes to treatment at baseline predicted adherence one year later and may be a clinically useful tool.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Research Unit, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Cluain Mhuire Service, Newtownpark Avenue, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donohoe
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharkey
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migone
authors.forename: Raewynn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.forename: Conall
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Eadbhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014504:Urban Health