Family Contact and the Management of Medication Non-adherence in Schizophrenia

We compare psychiatric management of antipsychotic non-adherence among schizophrenia outpatients with high and low levels of family contact. A national survey was conducted among a random sample of psychiatrists treating schizophrenia, providing data on 310 patients. Patients were stratified by level of family contact. Psychiatrists were more likely to use family interventions to manage non-adherence among patients with high family contact. Psychiatrists were significantly more likely to change antipsychotic dosing in patients with high family contact, though less likely to start depot antipsychotic medications. Family interventions appear to be commonly used in the psychiatric management of medication non-adherence in schizophrenia.