Medication Non-Compliance: A Predictor for Relapse in Psychosis

Abstract

Medication non-compliance or Drug non-compliance remains as one of the major challenges in the field of psychiatry & psychiatric nursing, because it increases the risk of relapse and re-hospitalization to a greater extent. Psychiatric patients are at a higher risk for medication non-compliance because they have impaired judgment, insight and stability. The distress which is caused to the patients and family members are incredible, as most of them are unaware about the real dread of the mental illness in the absence of continued treatment. Therefore sticking on an appropriate treatment regimen becomes inevitable to the patients with psychosis, as medication non-compliance serves as a major predictor for psychotic relapse. It is very essential for the mental health team members to impart measures to improve medication compliance in patients with psychosis, in order to reduce the suffering of the patients and their families. Unless the crucial factors responsible for medication non-compliance is identified and addressed properly, it becomes a long standing issue. Hence, this paper is forecasted in such a way that the common factors which affects medication compliance and influences the medication adherence are duly addressed along with the preventive strategies.