A study of medication nonadherence in schizophrenia

Background: Nonadherence is a problem in schizophrenia. This study aimed to find out the demographic and clinical variables affecting medication adherence in schizophrenia and to find out the relationship between severity of illness and medication adherence in schizophrenia. Material and methods: It was a cross-sectional study where subjects were assessed for adherence in a single contact. Tools used were proforma for demographic data, the tenth revision of the Internal Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD ? 10), brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and medication adherence rating scale (MARS). Results: In our sample the mean age of the participants was 34.04 (standard deviation, SD: 9.96) years. Rate of nonadherence in our study was 37%. The findings showed no significant association of adherence to religion, educational level, occupation, family income, type of family and family history. Maximum patients were diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia 38 (82.61%). It was found that adherence correlated negatively with BPRS total score. No significant difference was observed between use of typical and atypical antipsychotic on adherence. Conclusion: Not visiting a psychiatrist might be viewed as just another aspect of nonadherence which may not have been highlighted in our single contact hospital based study.