Adherence to antipsychotic medication in indigenous patients with schizophrenia Adherencia a la medicación antipsicótica en pacientes indígenas con esquizofrenia

Abstract

Introduction Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication remains a complex problem in the treatment of schizophrenia patients, especially in indigenous population. Objective The aim of the study was to assess the differences in drug adherence, measured by the attitude towards the antipsychotics among Aymara and Non-Aymara patients with schizophrenia. Method The sample consisted of patients receiving treatment in the Mental Health Public Services in Bolivia (32.8[%]), Peru (33.6[%]) and Chile (33.6[%]). We used the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10); the Barnes Akathisia Scale (BAS), as a measure of side effects, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to assess the severity of the disorder. Results The findings showed that Aymara patients present less adherence than Non-Aymara people; however, these differences were not significant (t = 1.29; p = 0.19). The severity of the disorder, as well as the age, showed a significant association with adherence, revealing that younger pat