New tool to identify noncompliant schizophrenia patients
Two out of three patients with schizophrenia will fail to adhere to their medication as prescribed. The new tool includes eight factors that can be related to nonadherence.
A new screening tool has been developed and used in a survey of patients with schizophrenia that can help practitioners identify medication noncompliance. According to results of the National Adherence Initiative for Schizophrenia survey, which were released this week at the 160th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), two out of three patients with schizophrenia will fail to adhere to their medication as prescribed. The new tool includes eight factors that can be related to nonadherence, including the three most common: poor insight into illness (74%), previous discontinuation of medication on own (68%), and forgetting to take medication (67%). According to the study's lead investigator, identification of noncompliant patients can help clinicians intervene when appropriate.
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