Reasons associated with treatment non-adherence in schizophrenia in a Pakistan cohort

Treatment: non-adherence in patients with schizophrenia is the most common reason for a relapse of psychosis. In a cohort of participants in Pakistan who suffered a relapse of psychosis, we aimed to identify the principal factors associated with non-adherence, including any culture specific factors that might not be as significant in other jurisdictions. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken at four psychiatric hospitals in the Peshawar region in Pakistan with 55 participants (44 male and 11 female) diagnosed with schizophrenia, who had suffered a relapse of psychosis subsequent to treatment non-adherence. The five principal documented reasons for treatment non-adherence were: 1) alternative treatment pathway chosen with a traditional faith healers (n = 53, 96.4%), 2) lack of insight (n = 36, 65.5%), 3) poor economic status (n = 33, 60.0%), 4) adverse effects of medications (n = 33, 60.0%) and 5) utilising psycho-active substances as an alternative to psychotropic medications (n = 27, 41.1%). A number of identified factors associated with a relapse of psychosis are potentially modifiable including the provision of a range of pharmacological options including second generation antipsychotic agents, long acting injectable antipsychotics and psycho-therapeutic interventions including psycho-education. These interventions should prove cost effective and be associated with reduced relapse rates of psychosis.