title: Association between Medication Adherence and Duration of Outpatient Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medication adherence is important in the treatment of schizophrenia, and critical periods during treatment may be associated with relapse. However, the relationship between adherence and duration of outpatient treatment (DOT) remains unclear. The authors aimed to clarify the relationship between adherence and DOT at a psychiatric hospital in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  For outpatients with schizophrenia who regularly visit Shin-Abuyama hospital, the authors conducted a single questionnaire survey (five questions covering gender, age, DOT, medication shortages, and residual medication) over one month period. Participants were divided into two groups whether DOT were from more than one year to within five years or not. Mantel-Haenszel analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed on the data regarding the medication adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Effective answers were received for 328 patients. The residual medication rate was significantly higher among those receiving outpatient treatment from more than one year to within five years than five years than those receiving outpatient treatment for more than five years or less than one year (p=0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey suggests that there are critical periods during which patients are most prone to poor adherence. Because poor adherence increases the risk of relapse, specific measures must be taken to improve adherence during these periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tarutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kikuyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Munehiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsufumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shin-Abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan.; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoneda
keywords: Critical period; Medication adherence; Outpatients; Questionnaires; Schizophrenia