Effects of Adherence to Pharmacological Treatment on the Recovery of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adherence to antipsychotic treatment on the recovery of patients with schizophrenia in northern Chile. One hundred and fifty-one patients diagnosed with schizophrenia completed the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS), Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-24), sociodemographic information, and clinical and treatment characteristics of patients with schizophrenia. Multivariate analysis with multiple linear regression was then performed to identify variables that were potentially associated with the recovery assessment (variable criterion). A significant association was found between adherence to antipsychotic medication and the Willing to Ask for Help dimension of Recovery (β = 0.239, p = 0.005). Association of clinical and socio-demographic variables with recovery were identified: negative symptoms with Personal Confidence and Hope (β = −0.341, p = 0.001) and Goal and Success Orientation (β = −0.266, p = 0.014); cognitive symptoms with Willing to Ask for Help (β = −0.305, p = 0.018) and no domination by symptoms (β = −0.351, p = 0.005); marital status with reliance on others (β = −0.181, p = 0.045); age with Personal Confidence and Hope (β = −0.217, p = 0.021), Goal and Success Orientation (β = −0.296, p = 0.003), and no domination by symptoms (β = 0.214, p = 0.025). Adherence has a positive relationship with personal recovery in this sample of Chilean patients with schizophrenia.