Attitude towards antipsychotics among out-patients with schizophrenia in Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
The study aim to assess the attitude of patients with schizophrenia attending out-patient clinics in Nigeria towards antipsychotic medication and examine the factors associated with such attitude.


METHODS
Out-patients with schizophrenia (n = 312) completed the 10-item Drug Attitude Inventory. They were also evaluated for sociodemographic details, illness-related and drug-related variables.


RESULTS
Overall, the patients had a good attitude towards antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with poor attitude towards medication include presence of symptoms, presence of side-effects like dyskinesia and sedation, lack of insight into the illness, and being employed.


CONCLUSIONS
Special attention should be paid to patients with these factors while designing programmes to improve overall compliance in patients with schizophrenia.
Adewuya
A O
AO
Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. biodunwuya@yahoo.com
Ola
B A
BA
Mosaku
S K
SK
Fatoye
F O
FO
Eegunranti
A B
AB
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents