title: Prevalence and predictors of medication non-adherence among Chinese patients with first-episode psychosis.
abstract: Medication non-adherence is one of the major obstacles to recovery in first-episode psychosis (FEP). This study aimed to identify the predictors and rates of medication non-adherence in the first and second year after the start of treatment (baseline) in urban Chinese FEP patients. Relevant information on medication non-adherence and potential baseline predictors, including demographic variables, clinical measures, violence/suicide attempts, stressful life experiences, intervention received, and follow-up attendance, were collected from case records of 1400 FEP patients in Hong Kong. The non-adherence rate was 16.2% in year 1 and 15.4% in year 2. Regression analyses revealed the predictors for non-adherence in year 1 were no hospitalization at baseline, non-schizophrenia diagnosis, and more years of education. Predictors of non-adherence in year 2 included acute/subacute onset and older age of onset. Predictors common in both years were defaulting from psychiatric follow-up during baseline, standard psychiatric care (no early intervention), and lower positive symptoms severity at baseline. In assessing non-adherence risk and for planning phase-specific early interventions for FEP, particularly in a Chinese context, healthcare professionals should consider the common and specific predictors for non-adherence identified in the first and second years of treatment and should not overlook patients with less clinically severe symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: christy@lmhui.com.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lai-Ming Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Venessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wing-Yan Poon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shuk-Kuen Kwok
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wing-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kit-Wa Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ho-Ming Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yu-Hai Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adherence; Antipsychotics; Compliance; Predictors; Schizophrenia