title: The meaning of antipsychotic medication to patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the meaning of taking antipsychotic medication in a population with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of publications on the meaning of medication was conducted using PsycINFO, Medline, and SOCINDEX databases (2001-2012) and search terms attitude or meaning plus antipsychotics or neuroleptics. Based on this search, 110 articles were found, 60 of which were judged relevant to the goal of this article. A recently published expert consensus guideline was also used to better understand current thinking about medication adherence issues in patients with severe mental illness. Quotations from patients attending a women's clinic for psychosis were used to expand on themes found in the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes extracted from the reviewed literature fell into three main categories: a) control by and of medication, b) dependence on medication and on the prescriber, and c) stigma resulting from medication use. These themes contrast with the usual medical associations with medication (e.g., symptom relief or side effects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shared discussion of beliefs about medication between patient and care provider allows wider exploration of personal meanings that can help establish therapeutic relationships and integrate psychological therapy with psychopharmacology.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mary.seeman@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Seeman
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seeman
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents