Assessment of “Patient’s Attitude” towards the Use of Antipsychotic Medications among Schizophrenia and BPAD Patients: Impact of Patient Counselling in Improving Their Attitude

Abstract

Aim of this paper is to assess the “patient’s attitude” towards the use of antipsychotic drugs among schizophrenia and BPAD patients and evaluate the effect of patient counseling in improving their attitude. The study was conducted in Psychiatric inpatient and outpatient department units of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) of Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh in South India from December 2013 to May 2014. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or BPAD of either sex visiting inpatient or outpatient psychiatric departments with past psychiatric illness of more than six months were included in the study. Patients with psychiatric illness of less than six months and special population like pediatrics and pregnancy are excluded from the study. The study was conducted in a south Indian tertiary care teaching hospital, RIMS (Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical sciences), Kadapa, for a period of six months. A total of 90 patients (45 BPAD and 45 schizophrenia patients) were recruited under inclusion criteria after receiving informed consent form. The authors can find how many of them are compliance or non-compliance. They can come to know what is quality of life (QOL) with patients who are having positive attitude; also they can find QOL in patients who are having negative attitude towards psychotropic drugs. The authors can increase QOL of patients who are having negative attitude towards drugs by giving appropriate patient counseling.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anti-psychotics, psychiatric disorders

Cite this Article

Chirlu Venkata Raja, Gangula Amareswara Reddy, Anjali J, et al. Assessment of “patient’s attitude” towards the use of antipsychotic medications among schizophrenia and BPAD patients – impact of patient counselling in improving their attitude. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmaceutical Science. 2015; 6(2): 1–8p.