title: Adherence patterns with first- versus second-generation antipsychotics for newly diagnosed schizophrenia in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the early adherence patterns for first-generation antipsychotics and second-generation antipsychotics during the first month of treatment for patients newly diagnosed as having schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  With a random sample from the Taiwan national health insurance database, persons with a schizophrenia diagnosis (ICD-9-CM code 295.X) and a concurrent initial antipsychotic prescription from 1998 to 2006 were defined as being newly treated for schizophrenia. Adherence patterns within one month of diagnosis were categorized into four independent groups: refill, switch, admission, and discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment initiated with first-generation or second-generation antipsychotics resulted in similar rates of refill (57% versus 59%). However, patients who started with first-generation antipsychotics were significantly less likely to switch (9% versus 14%) but more likely to discontinue (34% versus 26%) medications than those whose treatment was initiated with second-generation antipsychotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data substantiated previous observations of the magnitude of adherence problems in Asian populations and highlight the importance of developing new strategies for intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kuan-Yi
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Erin Chia-Hsuan
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chuan-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chi-Shin
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shaw-Ji
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tsung-Kai
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hui-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057915:Drug Substitution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013624:Taiwan; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents