
Research view
Title: | Subjective experience with psychotropic medications in patients with psychotic and mood disorders |
Author: | Mohamed A. Abdelhameed, Ahmed M. Kamal and Tarek G. Hemed |
Abstract: |
Background
Subjective response of psychiatric patients to his/her medications is an important
factor determining his/her compliance to treatment and hence the course of illness and
prognosis.
Objectives
To explore the subjective experience of patients with psychotic and mood disorders
with respect to their psychotropic medications and to investigate the probable role of
different factors in shaping that experience.
Participants and methods
Eighty patients were selected to participate in this study (40 patients with psychotic
disorders and another 40 with mood disorders). They were subjected to full history
taking and psychiatric examination after taking their consent. The Drug Attitude
Inventory (DAI 30) was then applied to reveal their subjective experiences with
psychotropic medications.
Results
Employment and preserved insight were found to be associated with a positive
subjective experience with psychotropic medications. A modest duration of current
medication, a favorable side-effect profile of the administered drugs, therapeutic
alliance with the treating psychiatrist, and associated psychotherapy with
pharmacotherapy were all found to play a role in establishing a positive subjective
experience with the prescribed drugs.
Conclusion
Certain factors are implicated in the determination of the subjective experiences of
psychotic and mood disorder patients with respect to their medications. These factors
should be carefully considered to increase patient compliance and improve the results
and outcome of psychotropic medications.
Keywords:
mood disorders, psychosis, psychotropic medications, subjective experience
|
Journal: | Egyptian Journal of Psychiatry 2013, 34:191–198 |
Text: | |
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