Adherence to Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia

Emilio Sacchetti is full professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Brescia University, Director of the School of Psychiatry and President of the Course of Study in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Techniques Degree of the same University. He is also Scientific Director of Center EULO for the Study and Research of Behavioral and Degenerative Disorders. Antonio Vita is associate professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Brescia University. Alberto Siracusano is the Director of the Unit of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology of the University Hospital Tor Vergata in Rome Wolfgang Fleischhacker is Director Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria

• 1 Poor adherence to antipsychotic medication in people with schizophrenia: diffusion, consequences, and contributing factors.- Premise.- Role of antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia.- Compliance versus adherence.- Assessment of medication adherence.- Frequency of poor adherence to antipsychotics.- Consequences of poor adherence to antipsychotics.- Determinants and moderators of adherence to antipsychotics.- Present and medium-term perspectives.- Closing Remarks.- 2 Pharmacological strategies to enhance adherence in schizophrenia.- Introduction.- Pharmacological factors contributing to non-adherence: efficacy, side effects, regimen, co-therapies.- First vs Second generation antipsychotics: efficacy, tolerability and the adherence issue.- Long-acting injectable antipsychotics.- Conclusion. 3 Non-pharmacological strategies to enhance adherence and continuity of care in schizophrenia.- Introduction.- Factors Influencing (non-)adherence in Schizophrenia.- Interventions to Enhance Adherence. Research and Clinical Evidence.- Comprehensive Review of Psychosocial and Programmatic Interventions to Enhance Adherence to Antipsychotic Medication in Schizophrenia.- Summary of Main Results and Evidences.- Conclusions and Future Directions.- 4 Psychological issues in improving adherence and alliance.- The patient-doctor relationship as a determinant of adherence to treatment.- Alliance and psychodynamic issues.- Towards the concept of concordance of the therapeutic project.​

"Adherence to Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia the issue of treatment adherence is addressed from a series of viewpoints, with all of them converging in a valiant attempt to provide a systematic overview of the aforementioned theme, and in doing so becoming the central achievement and this book's greatest value. ... this book to be a praiseworthy resource and of great help to all the professionals in the field of mental health treating and caring for those suffering from schizophrenia." (Vjekoslav Peitl, Alcoholism and Psychiatry Research, Vol. 51 (2), 2015) "This book reviews aspects influencing patients' adherence to antipsychotic medications for the treatment of schizophrenia. ... The audience includes individuals who are involved in the care of patients with schizophrenia, including psychiatrists. ... anyone who cares for people suffering from schizophrenia could benefit from this book ... . This book is very helpful, particularly on the nonpharmacological interventions that any providers can easily use to help their patients improve their adherence to antipsychotic medications and thus have better treatment outcomes." (Aaron Plattner, Doody's Book Reviews, May, 2014)