Factors Involved in Treatment Adherence in Psychosis: Importance of Treatment Effectiveness for the Patients

Abstract

Aims:

Treatment adherence is crucial to the therapeutic success in psychiatric disorders. Evaluating factors involved in treatment adherence will allow to modify treatment strategies for greater compliance. the aim of the study was to evaluate factors involved in treatment adherence, including subjective patients’ satisfaction.

Method:

The study included in- and outpatients who met the criteria according to DSM-IV TR of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, psychosis not otherwise specified, brief psychotic disorder and bipolar disorder. the following questionnaires were applied:

1. 1. Demographic and clinical questionnaire;

2. 2. Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication Version II (TSQM vII);

3. 3. Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS);

4. 4. Schedule for Assessment of Insight (SAI);

5. 5. World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale (WHOQoL-BREF).

TSQM vII is a self-reporting questionnaire to assess the major dimensions of patients’ satisfaction with their medication, includes 11 items that make up three specific scales (effectiveness, side-effects and convenience).

Results:

Twenty patients, between 18 and 65 years of age, were included. an interview was made and the 5 questionnaires were applied. the statistical analysis, using Regression Analysis Stepwise, showed a significant positive correlation between medication adherence, evaluated by MARS, and treatment effectiveness to the patients, evaluated by TSQMvII effectiveness scale (p=0.028). the correlations between the others parameters were not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

In this study the authors found that the self-experience of treatment effectiveness, which is a major dimension for treatment satisfaction, had a positive correlation with treatment adherence. Strategies to enhance subjective treatment effectiveness are needed to improve medication adherence.