Pharmacophilia and pharmacophobia: determinants of patients' attitudes towards antipsychotic medication.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors that influence attitudes towards psychopharmacological treatment in patients suffering from schizophrenia and schizoaffective psychoses.


METHODS
Ninety-two participants in an outpatient psychoeducational program, classed as "pharmacophobic" or "pharmacophilic" according to the Drug Attitude Inventory scale, were compared with regard to sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics, subjective deficit syndrome, illness concepts, knowledge, locus of control, and quality of life.


RESULTS
The 59 pharmacophilic and the 33 pharmacophobic patients did not differ significantly with regard to most sociodemographic variables, symptoms, or classic personality traits such as locus of control, self-concept, and quality of life. The only differences concerned hospitalization history ( P < 0.05) and statements on the actual, subjective experience of desired and undesired effects of medication ( P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of subjective experiences with drug treatment on attitudes towards medication and compliance needs to be a main focus of interventions targeting attitudes towards pharmacological treatment.
Sibitz
I
I
Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna. Ingrid.Sibitz@meduniwien.ac.at
Katschnig
H
H
Goessler
R
R
Unger
A
A
Amering
M
M
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents