A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH ON THE DISCONTINUATION OF MEDICATION IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN TERMS OF AGE, GENDER AND REASON OF DISCONTINUATION

Objective: To trace the reason and frequency for non-compliance to medication psychiatric outpatients.Design: This study is cross sectional and descriptive analysis.Setting: Government Hospital for Psychiatric Diseases Lahore, Pakistan was the place of this study in the time frame of January – November, 2017.Methods: A questionnaire was prepared for conducting a general survey. Administration of the questionnaire was carried out by qualified psychiatrists. Later on, psychiatrists classified the reasons of discontinuation of medication.Results: Screening of 343 patients was executed, amongst them 56 were found to have stopped the prescribed medication. Affordability of medicines was a general reason for discontinuation of medication.Conclusion: Patients can improve their ailments if they are provided with steady medicines. Key Words: Psychosis, medication, non-compliance.