The Relationship Between Medication Noncompliance and Cognitive Function in Patients With Schizophrenia

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The relatively high rate of medication noncompliance in patients with schizophrenia may be in part the result of cognitive impairments frequently associated with the disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether baseline performance on specific neurocognitive tests predicts a patient's level of medication compliance. The question of whether improvement on these same tests after 3 months of antipsychotic treatment would correlate with medication compliance was also examined in this study.

DESCRIPTVE CORRELATIONAL DESIGN: Patients' medication compliance (on a percentage basis) was correlated with their baseline and 3-month posttreatment scores on four neurocognitive tests.

RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship exists between medication compliance and patients'performance on tests of attention and immediate visual recall

CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the implementation of interventions that ameliorate specific neurocognitive deficits that, in turn may facilitate improved medication compliance.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Blackwell, B. (1973). Patient compliance. New England Journal of Medicine, 289, 249-252.

Falloon, I. R. H. (1984). Developing and maintaining adherence to long-term drug taking regimens. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 10, 412-417.

Fenton, W. A. , Blyler, C. R. , & Heinssen, R. K. (1997). Determinants of medication compliance in schizophrenia: Empirical and clinical findings. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 23, 637-651.

Gallhofer, B. (1998). Effects of conventional versus newer antipsychotic agents on cognitive function. Current Approaches to Psychoses Diagnosis and Management, 7, 6-8.

Gold, J. M. , & Harvey, P. D. (1993). Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 16, 295-309.

Green, M. F. (1996). What are the functional consequences of neurocognitive deficits in schizophrenia? American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 321-330.

Green, M. F. , Marshall, B. D., Jr. , Wirshing, W. C. , Ames, D. , Marden, S. R. , McGurk, S. , Kern, R. S. , & Mintz, J. (1997). Does risperidone improve verbal working memory in treatment-resistant schizophrenia? American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 799-804.

Harvey, P. D. (1998). Dimensions of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: The Kraepelinian legacy. In Cognition in Schizophrenia: The new therapeutic goal. Presentation at the 151st APA annual meeting.

Hoffman, R. P. , Moore, W. E. , & O'Dea, L. F. (1974). A potential role for the pharmacist: Medication problems confronted by the schizophrenic outpatient. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association, 14, 252-265.

10.

Lewine, R. J. (1996). The struggle over medications: A look at the factors affecting the use of psychoactive drugs. Journeys 7(2);8(1);8(2).

11.

The perils of noncompliance: Some tips to help increase medication adherence (1997). Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 35, 12-13.

12.

Serban, G. , & Thomas, A. (1974). Attitudes and behaviors of acute and chronic schizophrenic patients regarding ambulatory treatment. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 991-995.

13.

Walker, E. , Lucas, M. , & Lewine, R. (1992). Schizophrenic disorders. In A. E. Puente & R. J. McCaffrey (Eds.), Handbook of neuropsychological assessment: A biopsychosocial perspective (pp. 309-334). New York: Plenum Press.