Low treatment adherence with antipsychotics is associated with relapse in psychotic disorders within six months after discharge.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the association between treatment adherence with antipsychotics and schizophrenia relapse on a continuous scale.


METHODS
A cohort study with a total of 477 patients with schizophrenia who were recently discharged from an inpatient clinic was performed.


RESULTS
In the 160 people who relapsed within the six months after discharge the average medication possession ratio was 0.50. This was 0.59 in the 317 persons who were not readmitted. The resulting hazard ratio for the medication possession ratio on relapse risk was 0.60 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.88).


CONCLUSIONS
The found hazard ratio indicates that the risk of relapse is substantially decreased when a patient is properly adherent to the antipsychotic therapy that was prescribed at the inpatient clinic.
Laan
W
W
Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. W.Laan@umcutrecht.nl
van der Does
Y
Y
Sezgi
B
B
Smeets
H M
HM
Stolker
J J
JJ
Wit
N J de
NJ
Heerdink
E R
ER
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents