Clinical correlates of early medication adherence: West London first episode schizophrenia study.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about factors that mediate adherence with medication during the early stages of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia. This study sought to identify factors that may be associated with medication adherence in first-episode schizophrenia.


METHODS
In 101 patients, adherence was assessed along with potentially relevant variables, including attitudes toward medication, insight, substance misuse, side effects and psychopathology.


RESULTS
In a linear regression analysis, negative attitudes toward medication and a relative lack of insight contributed significantly towards poor adherence. Although poorly adherent patients had significantly higher scores on negative and disorganization syndromes, these did not contribute significantly towards adherence. Adverse medication side effects, subjective well-being and substance misuse showed no significant association with adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
At the initiation of drug treatment, attitudes toward medication and insight appear more relevant to medication adherence than side effects. Adherence appears to reflect a complex interaction of influences, which may change over time.
Mutsatsa
S H
SH
Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, St Dunstans Road, London W68 8RP, U.K. s.mutsatsa@imperial.ac.uk
Joyce
E M
EM
Hutton
S B
SB
Webb
E
E
Gibbins
H
H
Paul
S
S
Barnes
T R E
TR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents