Strategies for optimizing medication adherence in schizophrenia

Abstract

Medication nonadherence is a common problem in the treatment of schizophrenia. The consequences of nonadherence are numerous and can be quite serious, including increased risk of rehospitalization and suicide. There are numerous factors that affect a patient's decision and ability to take medication, including medication efficacy and tolerability, treatment regimen, cognitive deficits, and the patient's relationship with the treatment team. Fortunately, there are several strategies that may increase treatment adherence, including individualization of medication selection and dosing strategy to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse side effects, utilization of long-acting injectable depot formulations that eliminate the need for the patient to remember daily oral medication, and psychosocial approaches that emphasize the benefits of staying well.

Optimizing Outcomes in Schizophrenia: Long-acting Depots and Long-term Treatment

“…Several articles, including one published in a recent issue of this journal, have discussed why patients with schizophrenia don't take their medicine. [6][7][8][9][10] In this review article, we present some of the data indicating why patients with schizophrenia should take their medicine.…”