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DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-918801
Psychopharmacological treatment of schizophrenia–How is medication favoured by the patient? First results of the FAME I–Study
A continuing antipsychotic medication is a major factor for relapse prevention in schizophrenia. Many factors influencing the adherence have been detected, however, the personal attitudes of patients towards a specific medication and the therapeutic alliance have not been systematically investigated.
In a prospective longitudinal survey in nine psychiatric hospitals 300 patients with schizophrenia were asked to assess their attitudes towards and experiences with medication. The questionnaire also included the Insight Scale (IS), the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) and a new Questionnaire on Therapeutic Alliance (QTA).
300 patients (male: 58%; mean age: 39.7±12.3 years) participated. 84% consented to require currently a pharmacological treatment, 75% to require a treatment for at least one year. The intake of tablets was preferred by 67%, a depot-injection by 24%, and a surgical implantable long-term delivery system by 9%. The scores of the IS, DAI and QTA correlated positively. The attitude towards medication improved particularly when the therapeutic alliance was assessed to be good (r=0.44; p<0.001). Age, duration of illness and of antipsychotic treatment were not correlated to the scores of IS, DAI or QTA.
A high proportion of patients agrees to require continuing medication. The attitude towards medication depends considerably on the insight into illness and the therapeutic alliance.