Gap between patients with schizophrenia and their psychiatrists on the needs to psychopharmacological treatment: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aim Psychopharmacological treatment is indispensable in patients with schizophrenia but data on needs, preferences, and complaints about their medications are limited. Moreover, there has been no study to assess the degree of awareness of their psychiatrists (gap in needs) regarding these issues. Methods Ninety‐seven Japanese patients with schizophrenia (ICD‐10) were asked to fill in the questionnaire consisting of multiple‐choice questions regarding (a) their needs and complaints about psychopharmacological treatment that they were receiving, and (b) their preference of dosage form, dosing frequency, and timing of dosing. Additionally, their psychiatrists in charge were asked to predict their patients’ response to the above questions. Results Both the most frequently endorsed need and complaints about the current psychopharmacological treatment were “nothing in particular” (n = 14, 16.7% and n = 17, 20.2%); merely 23.1% and 15.4% of their psychiatrists correctly predicted these responses, respectively. “Once a day” (n = 56, 65.1%), “at bedtime” (n = 53, 61.6%), and “tablet” (n = 51, 59.3%) were the patients’ most favorite dosing frequency, timing, and dosage form, respectively; 59.8% (n = 49), 54.9% (n = 45), and 64.6% (n = 53) of their psychiatrists predicted them. Conclusions These findings suggest that there is substantial room for improvement on the side of psychiatrists to capture their patients’ needs and complaints about psychopharmacological treatment.

Clozapine Once-Daily Versus Divided Dosing Regimen

“…Furthermore, the extent of subjective adverse effects of clozapine did not differ between once-daily and divided dosing. Once-daily dosing is generally preferred by patients [20][21][22] and associated with better adherence to medication. 23,24 These findings suggest the feasibility and utility of once-daily dosing of clozapine in clinical practice, although actual patients' preferences as well as tolerability should be evaluated.…”

Continuous versus extended antipsychotic dosing in schizophrenia: Less is more

“…In fact, LAI risperidone that is indicated for bi-weekly administration could be given monthly [15,91], although the data are still preliminary. Because data on appropriate dosing interval is insufficient, patients must be carefully selected for treatment with LAI antipsychotics, based on patient treatment adherence and preferences [92], as well as dosing frequency of LAI treatment when it is administered. Moreover, potential biological changes such as dopamine supersensitivity due to this formulation should also be acknowledged.…”

Corrigendum

“…In the article by Takahashi et al, 1 the term “Morisky Medication Adherence Scale‐4 items (MMAS‐4)” in the last row of Table 1 should read as "Morisky Simplified Self‐Report Measure of Adherence" and the abbreviation “MMAS‐4” in the table legend should be deleted.…”