The effects of a compliance therapy programme on Chinese male patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Studies have found prevention of relapse, symptom control and recovery are associated with treatment regime compliance, and psychoeducation motivational interviewing skills promoted compliance for up to two years. This prospective experimental study with randomized single blind design investigated Compliance Therapy Programme (CTP) effects on forty-seven recruited male Chinese patients with schizophrenia that were randomly allocated to control or experimental groups. Both groups received routine treatment, and the experimental group also received compliance therapy programme. All subjects were pre-tested with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Drug Attitude Inventory-Chinese version and Self-Report Drug Compliance. Before discharge their symptoms were reassessed with the BPRS. An independent assessor reassessed subjects with an identical battery of assessments at three and six months post-discharge to investigate intervention effects. Outpatient follow-up records were traced. Both groups demonstrated improved symptom scores of a similar magnitude over their hospitalization scores. Experimental group subjects exhibited the advantages of follow-up compliance, (p<O.O5). Subjects able to keep outpatient follow-up for three months were more likely to remain compliant. The compliance therapy programme was shown to be a pragmatic measure to improve outpatient compliance follow-up for six months, at least.