Beyond the usual suspects: positive attitudes towards positive symptoms is associated with medication noncompliance in psychosis.

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Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_2F18A9E0784A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Beyond the usual suspects: positive attitudes towards positive symptoms is associated with medication noncompliance in psychosis.
Journal
Schizophrenia Bulletin
Author(s)
Moritz S., Favrod J., Andreou C., Morrison A.P., Bohn F., Veckenstedt R., Tonn P., Karow A.
ISSN
1745-1701 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0586-7614
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2013
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
39
Number
4
Pages
917-922
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Abstract
Antipsychotic medication represents the treatment of choice in psychosis according to clinical guidelines. Nevertheless, studies show that half to almost three-quarter of all patients discontinue medication with antipsychotics after some time, a fact which is traditionally ascribed to side-effects, mistrust against the clinician and poor illness insight. The present study investigated whether positive attitudes toward psychotic symptoms (ie, gain from illness) represent a further factor for medication noncompliance. An anonymous online survey was set up in order to prevent conservative response biases that likely emerge in a clinical setting. Following an iterative selection process, data from a total of 113 patients with a likely diagnosis of schizophrenia and a history of antipsychotic treatment were retained for the final analyses (80%). While side-effect profile and mistrust emerged as the most frequent reasons for drug discontinuation, 28% of the sample reported gain from illness (eg, missing voices, feeling of power) as a motive for noncompliance. At least every fourth patient reported the following reasons: stigma (31%), mistrust against the physician/therapist (31%), and rejection of medication in general (28%). Approximately every fifth patient had discontinued antipsychotic treatment because of forgetfulness. On average, patients provided 4 different explanations for noncompliance. Ambivalence toward symptoms and treatment should thoroughly be considered when planning treatment in psychosis. While antipsychotic medication represents the evidence-based cornerstone of the current treatment in schizophrenia, further research is needed on nonpharmacological interventions for noncompliant patients who are willing to undergo intervention but refuse pharmacotherapy.
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
02/04/2012 10:03
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:13
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