Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about psychotropic medication among patients with mental disorders

TL;DR

This study explores how patients with mental disorders understand and perceive their prescribed medications, highlighting issues with treatment adherence and the impact of social stigma.

Contribution

The study provides insights into medication knowledge and attitudes among psychiatric patients in a specific hospital setting.

Findings

Most patients knew the color and shape of their medication but few knew the name and dose.

Adherence to treatment was poor, with financial difficulties and social stigma cited as barriers.

Many patients believed treatment could be stopped when they felt better, despite risks of relapse.

Abstract

Non-adherence to treatment is a major concern for mental health professionals. Knowledge of prescribed medications can influence patients’ willingness to adhere to them.

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of patients with mental disorders about their prescribed medication and to evaluate their attitudes and beliefs toward treatment.

Our quantitative descriptive study involved 52 patients hospitalized in the psychiatric “C” department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sax between the 23rd and 30 October 2023. Excluded were aggressive patients, those who were unable to communicate, and those who refused to participate. Thirty-nine patients were included. For each patient, we collected sociodemographic, clinical, and disease progression data, as well as information, beliefs, and attitudes concerning the prescribed treatment.

The mean age of our patients was 35.49 ± 10.24 years, with an exclusively male sample. Most patients had no occupation (69.2%). Only 10.3% were married. Over half of the patients had achieved primary school (61.5%) and lived in rural areas (64.1%). The mean duration of the mental disorder was 10.69 ± 9.07 years. Patients were hospitalized 3.62 times on average. The most frequent diagnoses were schizophrenia (35.9%) and bipolar disorder (33.3%). More than half of the patients (61.5%) knew the color and shape of the prescribed medication, and 48.2% knew the name and dose.

The source of treatment information was mainly doctors (33.3%) and family members (15.4%). Adherence to treatment was poor in 69.2% of cases. The majority of patients denied stopping treatment and 12.8% reported that they stopped treatment because of financial difficulties. Twenty-four patients confirmed that taking the treatment made people see them differently and that they preferred not to reveal they were taking it. Two-thirds of patients reported that the treatment relaxed them (71.8%) but could be stopped when they felt better (69.2%).

It is essential for mental health professionals to develop and implement effective intervention strategies that maximize therapeutic impact and reduce the risk of relapse.

None Declared