Lack of Awareness and Nonadherence in Schizophrenia

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examines whether lack of awareness of symptoms is a predictor for nonadherence. The study consecutively recruited 134 participants with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, diagnoses of schizophrenia spectrum disorders at acute psychiatric units. Outcome was measured by a combination of self-reports, utilizing the Rating on Medication Influences and medical records. The univariate analysis showed that homelessness was a predictor for nonadherence ( p = .03). The subsequent logistic regression showed that the multidimension symptom lack of awareness score was significantly associated with nonadherence to psychotropic medications (odds ratio = 0.59, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.35, 0.96). Other clinical and demographic variables as well as subjective responses were not significant predictors of nonadherence.