Prevalence and extent of distress of adverse effects of antipsychotics among callers to a United Kingdom National Mental Health Helpline

Abstract

The aims of this cross-sectional survey were to assess psychotic sufferers' perception of the effectiveness of their medication, the distress caused by adverse effects and the impact these might have on overall patient satisfaction with treatment. Three hundred and forty-one people diagnosed with psychosis who called a national mental health helpline (SANELINE) in the UK, between July 1998 and February 1999, were asked to take part in the survey. They were given a choice of either a postal questionnaire or a telephone interview in which the same questionnaire was used. One hundred and nineteen were interviewed on the telephone and 83 (out of 222) returned completed questionnaires. In total, information was available from 202 callers. Almost one-half of the respondents were dissatisfied with their medication, and almost all of them reported experiencing at least one adverse effect. Depression (or low mood), sedation and difficulty thinking and concentrating were the most prevalent adverse effects. Weight gain was the most distressing, particularly to women. Those taking atypical antipsychotics were significantly more likely than those on typical antipsychotics to experience insomnia and dry mouth, but were less likely to perceive depression and difficulty thinking/concentrating as quite or extremely distressing. Low satisfaction, as opposed to high satisfaction, was significantly associated with reporting weight gain, difficulty thinking/concentrating, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. It was also significantly associated with reporting weight gain, difficulty thinking/concentrating, muscle/joint stiffness and depression as quite or extremely distressing. Attention should be given to the management of cognitive impairment and weight gain as adverse effects of antipsychotics. Doctors should be more open to discussing the risks and nature of adverse effects with patients who should also be encouraged to do so.

Psychosocial and medical factors affecting treatment compliance in patients attending psychiatric hospital: a study from Kashmir

“…Among the first category the medication complications contributes the highest percentage of 13.46% in our study, the complications included an array of unpleasant side effects are known to be associated with most of the psychotropic medicines responsible for enhancing the rate of non-adherence in different studies. 5,6 These finding are in accordance with Fakhoury et al (1999 and2001).…”

BAP guidelines on the management of weight gain, metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular risk associated with psychosis and antipsychotic drug treatment

“…It is also the most distressing side-effect reported by callers to the SANE helpline (Fakhoury et al, 2001).…”

Effects and side effects of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia: Pros and cons of available self-rating scales

“…Unfortunately, almost all patients also experience undesirable side effects during this treatment with antipsychotics (Fakhoury et al, 2001), which frequently result in an early discontinuation or switching of medication (Lieberman et al, CATIE-study 2005;Kahn et al, 2008;Ücok and Gaebel, 2008). During the last three decades, interest in the influence of antipsychotic treatment and other treatmentrelated variables on patients' quality of life has been growing (e.g., Voruganti et al, 1997).…”