Schizophrenia: Impact of psychopathology, faith healers and psycho-education on adherence to medications.

Author: Abdel Aziz, K., Elamin, M. H., El-Saadouni, N. M., El-Gabry, D. A., Barakat, M., Alhayyas, F., & Moselhy, H. F.

Source:
International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 62(8), 719-725.
BACKGROUND: Many patients suffering from psychosis are nonadherent to their medications. Nonadherence can range from treatment refusal to irregular use or partial change in daily medication doses. AIM: To investigate whether symptom dimensions, post-discharge care plans and being involved with faith healer affect the adherence to treatment in patients with schizophreniMETHOD: A total of 121 patients with schizophrenia were examined 6 weeks post-discharge from the inpatient unit and assessed for full, partial or nonadherence to medication. RESULTS: There was a significant association between family involvement and partial adherence and between community team involvement post-discharge and full adherence to medications. Psycho-education was a predictor for adherence to medications, persecutory delusions and lack of insight predicted partial adherence, while being involved with faith healers predicted nonadherence. CONCLUSION: Adherence to medications and socio-demographic variables are independent. This study demonstrated that nonadherence or partial adherence to medications is associated with lack of insight and persecutory delusions. Psycho-education could improve the adherence to medication compliances.