Abstract

ESTIMATION OF TREATMENT COMPLIANCE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA-RESEARCH

Ravikrindi Sridhar*, V. D. C. Sravan Kumar and Ch. V. Hemanth

ABSTRACT

Aim of the study: The aim of the following study is to find out the compliance of patients toward medication and reasons for non-compliance in schizophrenia. Methodology: The prospective, observational study was conducted in out patient department of psychiatry. Schizophrenia patients were enrolled in to the study by considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. Details of demography, treatment and other medical details were captured in patient data collection from at baseline. Results: Nearly 53% of our study sample were non-compliant to medication. A significant association has been found between non-compliance and Gender, Education, unemployment, Marital status and Economical status. The significant reasons for non-compliance in our study were Denial of illness, financial burden, less access to treatment facilities, Side-effects of the medication, Feeling that the medication was unnecessary and Substance abuse. Conclusions: Out of the total 110 patients initially considered for the study 10 were excluded based on the fixed exclusion criteria. The final study sample was 100(100%) of which 53(53%) were compliant and 47(47%) were non-compliant to the medication Our study findings suggest that there is a need for identification and reduction of factors responsible for non compliance in schizophrenic patients.

Keywords: Attitudes, non-compliance, schizophrenia.