Antipsychotic drugs are the most effective medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. Their side effects, however, affect most patients; some of them suffer from them for the rest of their lives, with little chance of improvement. In general, the side effects are perceived differently by patients, their relatives, psychiatrists, and the public. Being informed about the side effects of antipsychotics does not negatively affect compliance and is essential for establishing patients' confidence in doctors and in the medication.
References
-
1
Chaplin R, Kent A.
Informing patients about tardive dyskinesia. Controlled trial of patient education.
Br J Psychiatry.
1998;
172
78-81
-
2
Day J C, Kinderman P, Bentall R.
A comparison of patients' and prescribers' beliefs about neuroleptic side-effects: prevalence, distress and causation.
Acta Psychiatr Scand.
1998;
97
93-97
-
3
Gerlach L, Larsen E B.
Subjective experience and mental side-effects of antipsychotic treatment.
Acta Psychiatr Scand.
1999;
99 (Suppl 395)
113-117
-
4
Hoge S K, Appelbaum P S, Lawlor T.
A prospective, multicenter study of patients' refusal of antipsychotic medication.
Arch Gen Psychiatry.
1990;
47
949-956
-
5
Hornung W P, Klingberg S, Feldmann R.
Collaboration with drug treatment by schizophrenic patients with and without psychoeducational training: results of a 1-year follow-up.
Acta Psychiatr Scand.
1998;
97
213-219
-
6
Kleinman I, Schachter D, Jeffries J.
Effectiveness of two methods for informing schizophrenic patients about neuroleptic medication.
Hospital and Community Psychiatry.
1993;
44
1189-1191
-
7
Kleinman I, Schachter D, Jeffries J.
Informed consent and tardive dyskinesia long-term follow-up.
J Nerv Ment Dis.
1996;
184
517-522
-
8
Larsen E B, Gerlach J.
Subjective experience of treatment, side-effects, mental state and quality of life in chronic schizophrenic out-patients treated with depot neuroleptics.
Acta Psychiatr Scand.
1996;
93
381-388
MUDr. Lucie Motlová
Psychiatric Center Prague and 3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University
Ústavní 91
18103 Praha 8
Czech Republic
