[Compliance in the treatment of schizophrenia -- results of an expert survey in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt].
OBJECTIVE
To report attitudes of psychiatrists and neurologists towards compliance with regard to medication-taking behaviour of patients suffering from schizophrenia.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to psychiatrists and neurologists practising in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Out of a total of 120, 54 completed questionnaires were returned.


RESULTS
Most of the experts defined compliance as the degree of fidelity to treatment recommendations and patient cooperation. In the experts' view, a positive attitude towards treatment, insight into illness, and accurate perception of the symptoms correlate strongly with compliance, whereas the association between sociodemographic characteristics and compliance was seen as moderate. A majority of experts considered there were changes in compliance over time.


CONCLUSIONS
With regard to the improvement of compliance, the importance of the doctor-patient-relationship is supported by the results of our study. As ratings of doctors suggest, compliance is a broadly determined behaviour which is variable over time. Future research on medication-related compliance in patients suffering from schizophrenia should take into account these findings.
Giessler
Anne
A
Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie.
Born
Anja
A
Helm
Hedda
H
Puschner
Bernd
B
Becker
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009462:Neurology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011570:Psychiatry; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs