An RCT of adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of adherence therapy-a brief intervention based on compliance therapy and motivational interviewing techniques-in a sample of people with schizophrenia in Thailand.


BACKGROUND
Poor adherence is problematic, but knowledge about how to improve medication adherence is limited. Studies focusing on the effects of interventions used to improve adherence have produced inconsistent outcomes and have been mainly conducted in western countries.


METHODS
An exploratory single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Thirty-two patients with schizophrenia were randomly allocated to receive eight weekly sessions of adherence therapy or continue with their treatment as usual. Patients were assessed at baseline and after nine weeks. The primary outcome was overall psychotic symptoms. Secondary outcomes were general functioning, attitude towards and satisfaction with antipsychotic medication and medication side effects.


RESULTS
The findings of this study indicated that patients who received adherence therapy significantly improved in overall psychotic symptoms, attitude towards and satisfaction with medication compared with treatment as usual but no significant difference was found in general functioning or side effects compared with treatment as usual.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence therapy has a positive impact on patients' psychiatric symptoms, attitude towards and satisfaction with medication. Nurses can effectively deliver adherence therapy following intensive training.
Maneesakorn
Suparpit
S
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Robson
Deborah
D
Gournay
Kevin
K
Gray
Richard
R
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013785:Thailand
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents