The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7371 p472
15 October 2005

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Psychiatric medicines often not taken as prescribed

As many as 40 per cent of people with severe mental illness do not take their medicines as prescribed, according to a new chapter which has been added to the report “A question of choice — compliance in medicines-taking”.

The latest section focuses on medicine-taking among people with psychotic conditions and was launched last week by the Medicines Partnership.

The chapter is made up of a review of current literature and comments from patients. It highlights that around 40 per cent of people with severe mental illness (eg, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder) do not take their medicines as prescribed. A copy of the new chapter and full report is available at www.medicines-partnership.org