Schizophrenia and medication adherence: Associated factors

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that requiring maintenance treatment with antipsychotic medication. Medication adherence is essential to improve the symptoms of this health problem reduce relapses and readmissions and achieve treatment goals. The rate of challenges associated with medication adherence in schizophrenia is reported to be 26.5-85.1 %.

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to determine factors associated with medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational research design was used. The study was completed with a total of 162 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, between February-June 2021, at a Community Mental Health Center. Regression analysis (Model: enter and stepwise) was used to determine associated factors.

RESULTS

The mean medication adherence score of individual diagnosed with schizophrenia indicated that more than half of the participants (52 %) had poor medication adherence. In individual diagnosed with schizophrenia, medication attitudes, level of internalized stigma, the status of regular attendance to appointments, belief in recovery, and using medicines as prescribed were complicating factors for medication adherence (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Medication adherence in individuals with diagnosed schizophrenia may be multifactorial. Mental health professionals should consider associated factors and implement a personalized treatment plan in this direction for strengthening adherence to medication treatment.

The impact of hope levels on treatment adherence in psychiatric patients

PURPOSE

In this study, aimed to determine the status of hope and treatment adherence in psychiatric patients and the relationship between the two.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The sample of the study consisted of participants (n = 103) in a university hospital psychiatric clinic. Research data were collected using personal information form, Morisky treatment adherence scale and Herth Hope Index (HHI). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out with SPSS 22.0 program using descriptive tests, student t-test, one-way variance analysis, chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The average score of the patients' hope scale is 34.23 ± 9.59 and is above the intermediate level. 43.7 % of patients have low adherence with treatment. It was found that as patients' hope scores increased (r = -0.417) non-adherence with treatment decreased; as annual hospitalization increased non-adherence increased (r = 0.274); as the duration of disease increased score of hope (r = -0.271), non-adherence with therapy (r = 0.353) and annual hospitalization increased (r = 0.211) (p < .05). Among the patients who took part in the study, 36.9 % were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 33.0 % with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, 20.4 % with depression. Patients with bipolar disorder had higher treatment non-adherence scores. It was determined that 29.1 % of the patients stopped taking medication thinking they had recovered and 28.2 % did not adhere to the treatment due to drug side effects.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the crucial role of hope in influencing treatment adherence among psychiatric patients. Clinicians should consider strategies to bolster hope as a potential avenue for improving adherence rates.

The effect of mindfulness on medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with Schizophrenia: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of mindfulness on medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. The data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale.

RESULTS

A strong positive correlation was determined between the mindfulness level and medication adherence of the individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Furthermore, mindfulness of the individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was statistically significant in explaining medication adherence (p < 0.05) and mindfulness predicted medication adherence by 64%.

CONCLUSION

It was observed that the individuals' mindfulness level was low and half of the participants had low medication adherence. Moreover, as their mindfulness level increased, so did their medication adherence.

Hospitalization and Some Sociodemographic Characteristics of Patients Registered with a Community Mental Health Center

One of the most important indicators evaluating the effectiveness of community mental health centers is the decrease in hospitalization rates of registered patients. The aim of our study was to compare the annual hospitalization rates of patients receiving community mental health services before enrollment with the annual hospitalization rates after enrollment. The study included 400 patients with a registration period of at least 1 year as of the end of 2018. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test the significance of the difference between pre-registration and post-registration patients' annual hospitalizations. The annual hospitalization rates (0.32 ± 0.35) and the annual hospitalization rates (0.15 ± 0.35) before and after registration were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). Annual hospitalization rates decreased by 54.58%. Our Community Mental Health Center, which provides community-based mental health services, has led to a significant decrease in annual hospitalization rates thanks to the services provided.

Eating Behaviors and Related Factors in Psychiatric Patients

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of eating disorders and associated risk factors in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Patients who were hospitalized in a psychiatry clinic of the university hospital between the dates of February 2014 and July 2014 constitute sample for the study. The study sample consisted of a total of 216 patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire form and the Eating Attitude Test. The mean age of the patients was 37±0.5, and 56.9% of the patients were female. Problems in eating behavior were observed in 11.6% of the patients, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the risk of eating disorders and diagnosis, gender, exercise and self-perception of weight. The risk of eating disorders was more frequently observed in patients diagnosed with depression, in female patients with a self-perceived weight problem and do not exercise.