title: Descriptions and Correlates of Medication Adherence, Attitudes, and Self-Efficacy in Outpatients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSDs).
abstract: The problem of medication adherence in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) has challenged researchers and clinicians for decades. Few investigations have examined non-psychiatric adherence in this group. We conducted a descriptive correlational investigation of adherence and related factors in 185 stable outpatients with SSDs. Fifty-seven percent of participants had antipsychotic medication levels within therapeutic range and 42% had levels below therapeutic range. Pill count percentage adherence to antipsychotic medications ranged from 0-100% with a mean of 70% and SD 34.9. Mean non-psychiatric medication adherence ranged from 0 to 100 with a mean of 61% and SD 31.8. The following characteristics were not significantly associated with adherence: age, diagnosis, gender, race, living arrangement, educational level, typical versus atypical antipsychotic medication. Level of symptoms was correlated negatively and significantly with self-reported medication adherence and medication adherence self-efficacy. Our next project will examine the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered intervention designed to support adherence in this group.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Knoxville TN. Electronic address: lbeebe1@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Lora Humphrey
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.affiliation: Tennessee Wesleyan College, Knoxville TN. Electronic address: ksmith@covhlth.com.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: The Helen Ross McNabb Center, Knoxville TN. Electronic address: cphil34@vols.utk.edu.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents