Compliance in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: the role of clinical pharmacist

The inability of patients with psychiatric illness to achieve full compliance with treatment during the postdischarge period is a major problem. In this study, our aim was to evaluate whether drug education provided by a clinical pharmacist during discharging period has an effect on compliance. Forty adult patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders were included. A number of scales were used to evaluate the severity of illness, medication adverse effects and compliance. At time of discharge, it was emphasized to patients by a clinical pharmacist that medication compliance was important to prevent exacerbation or hospitalization. Six to eight weeks after discharge, patients were invited to be reevaluated using the same scales as those applied during hospitalization. There was a statistically significant increase in compliance after drug education (P < 0.001). A decrease in the baseline compliance score was associated with an increase in the total number of hospitalizations and the number of psychotropic drugs used. When the risk factors that may affect compliance were evaluated, akathisia was found to have the highest impact on compliance (P = 0.012). It is necessary to take advantage of counseling on medication use and to develop strategies in order to improve compliance in psychiatry.