Attitudes toward antipsychotic medications as a useful feature in exploring medication non-adherence in schizophrenia

Objective: To investigate the interest in the attitudes toward antipsychotic medication in exploring medication non-adherence. Methods: Schizophrenic patients (N = 120) completed the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire and measures of medication adherence, and clinical outcomes. Comparison between four attitudinal groups and logistic regressions were performed. Results: High level of adherence varied significantly between attitudinal groups (Accepting, 70%; Indifferent, 63%; Ambivalent, 50%; Sceptical, 14%; p < 0.001). Poor insight and psychic side effects were the most significant predictors of negative beliefs. Conclusion: The attitudinal groups approach could facilitate the identification of patients with non-adherence and determine individual targets of interventions to improve negative beliefs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.