Relationship between adherence, symptoms, treatment attitudes, satisfaction, and side effects in prisoners taking antipsychotic medication

Objective: To examine the nature and clinical correlates of adherence in prisoners prescribed antipsychotic medication, and how these differ from findings in people taking antipsychotic medication who are not in prison. Method: Treatment adherence, satisfaction with antipsychotic medication, drug attitudes, symptoms, medication side effects, and insight (and insight dimensions) were assessed in 44 prisoners taking antipsychotic medication. Results: In a regression model, 52% of prisoners' adherence to antipsychotic medication was predicted by three explanatory variables: 'I feel motivated to take my antipsychotic medication'; 'My antipsychotic medication makes me feel better'; and putting on weight. Conclusion: Adherence interventions for prisoners taking antipsychotic medication may benefit from focusing on increasing personal relevance/ benefit from medication and on enhancing motivation to stick with treatment.