title: Relational agents as an adjunct in schizophrenia treatment.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss medication nonadherence and the use of relational agent technology as an aid in treating patients with schizophrenia. A team of mental health faculty-specialists in adherence, computer science, and statistics-collaborated to design the agent technology. This computerized virtual health counselor named "Laura" provides seven education modules about schizophrenia. Using preliminary data, two individual examples demonstrate the use of this technology. Implications for behavioral health nurses using this relational agent technology as an adjunct in improving mental health care are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. krp12@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puskar
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Schlenk
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callan
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bickmore
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sereika
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents