Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Psychotic disorders are serious, chronic, multi-dimensional and devastating brain disease. Among patients suffering from psychotic disorders, compliance determines the effectiveness of treatment. Negative attitude towards antipsychotics is a common cause of non compliance, which is a multifaceted problem for patient, family, society and physician. In order to improve drug compliance it is important to know the crucial factors responsible for drug non compliance. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors leading to drug non compliance among patients suffering with psychotic mental disorders. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the outpatient psychiatric department of an Indian tertiary care hospital over a period of 4 weeks. Purposive sampling was done to select the samples. Patients aged 20 years and above who presented with psychotic disorders as diagnosed by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10, receiving psychotropic medicine for more than 3 months were included. Medication adherence was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale 08 (MMAS-08) and factors causing drug non compliance using a self structured questionnaire. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data, Chi square test was performed to associate the selected socio-demographic variables and factors affecting non compliance. Result: Out of 241 participants, 142 (58.9%) were non-adherent to their drugs. Most common factors affecting non compliance were 'waiting time is more', ' hospital is far away from home', 'expensive to visit the hospital', 'inability to attend hospital alone', 'afraid of drug dependence' and 'forgetting to take medicines'. Association was found between age, gender, co-morbidities and family history of mental illness with factors affecting non compliance. Conclusion: The highlights of this study will help in identifying the factors which lead to medication non- compliance, which will enable us to become more aware of problems faced by patients in maintaining a compliant behavior. Hence, indicating the need to provide adequate information about illness and medications prescribed to challenge their dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive remediation for tackling forgetfulness as a reason for non compliance.