A Qualitative Study of Antipsychotic Medication Experiences of Youth.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the lived experience of youth who are prescribed antipsychotics.


METHODS
We conducted an interpretive phenomenology study of young people with recent experience of taking antipsychotics. Youth were interviewed and a staged approach was used for data analysis of transcriptions. We collected approximately 13 hours of audio from 18 youth aged 13 to 26 years between January and August of 2010.


RESULTS
Ambivalence was significant and antipsychotic adverse effects frequently tempered benefits. Both illness and antipsychotics had significant impacts on physical and mental wellbeing with adverse effects on relationships and functioning in various contexts (e.g., school). Stigma related to both antipsychotics and illness was also prominent. Participants' limited knowledge about their antipsychotics and pressure to conform within their youth culture and context affected decisions on starting, adhering to, and persisting with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The lived experience of youth taking antipsychotics is complex and the benefits (e.g., symptom improvement) and consequences (e.g., adverse effects) associated with antipsychotics affect all facets of life. More research is needed to better understand youth priorities in treatment decisions and whether youth who demonstrate substantive gaps in their knowledge about antipsychotics are truly given the opportunity to be informed and engage in management decisions including whether to initiate, persist with, and discontinue treatments.
College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Andrea L
AL
Murphy
College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
David M
DM
Gardner
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Steve
S
Kisely
Department of Health and Wellness, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Charmaine
C
Cooke
Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia ; Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, Dalhousie University/IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Stan P
SP
Kutcher
School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Jean
J
Hughes
antipsychotic agents; decision-making; pediatrics; physician-patient relations; qualitative research; young adults