| Abstract [eng] |
Schizophrenia is a common mental disorder, whose treatment remains difficult. Treatment is difficult not only because of frequent treatment resistance, but also patients’ anosognosia and medication non – adherence. Patients lack of insight is considered one of the most important factors to medication non – adherence. In Lithuania there are no studies regarding the link between anosognosia and medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia. The tasks of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of anosognosia and medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia and related factors. The aim was to assess the link between anosognosia and medication adherence, its related factors between patients with schizophrenia. Study hypothesis was that patients with schizophrenia who have anosognosia have poor adherence to medication and avoid other methods of treatment. Patient insight was evaluated using the Birchwood Insight Scale. Medicine Application Rating Scale was used to evaluate the medication adherence. Study was conducted in two Vilnius psychiatric hospitals, in January – May of 2022. 53 patients with paranoid schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders participated in the study. We found that 47% of patients with schizophrenia had anosognosia, but only 32,1% thought that medication treatment is unnecessary and only 7,5% thought that no treatment is necessary. Patients who thought that medication treatment is unnecessary were 13 times more likely to have anosognosia. Out of 75,5% of non – adherent to medication patients with schizophrenia those with anosognosia were 10 times more likely to be non – adherent to medication. A link between non – adherence to medication and anosognosia was established, patients with anosognosia more frequently avoid medication treatment but there was no link found between anosognosia and avoidance of other methods of treatment. It was found that younger patients with schizophrenia are less adherent to medication. |
