Clinical Correlates of Early Medication Adherence: West London First Episode Schizophrenia Study

Objective: Little is known about factors that mediate adherence with medication during the early stages of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia. This study sought to identify factors that may be associated with medication adherence in first-episode schizophrenia.

Method: In 101 patients, adherence was assessed along with potentially relevant variables, including attitudes toward medication, insight, substance misuse, side effects and psychopathology.

Results: In a linear regression analysis, negative attitudes toward medication and a relative lack of insight contributed significantly towards poor adherence. Although poorly adherent patients had significantly higher scores on negative and disorganization syndromes, these did not contribute significantly towards adherence. Adverse medication side effects, subjective well-being and substance misuse showed no significant association with adherence.

Conclusion: At the initiation of drug treatment, attitudes toward medication and insight appear more relevant to medication adherence than side effects. Adherence appears to reflect a complex interaction of influences, which may change over time.