Effect of insight-oriented internalized stigmatization on drug compliance in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of insight-oriented internalized stigmatization level on drug compliance in a group of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that were followed up at the psychiatric outpatient clinic. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at a hospital in Turkey between May 2015-March 2016. The study was conducted with 100 patients who were admitted to the psychiatric outpatient clinic between the ages of 18 and 65 who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder according to DSM-IV and followed up. The Sociodemographic Data Form has been developed by the researchers of the study by using the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale Internalized Stigmatization Scale in Mental Illness, Morisky Compliance Scale, Drug Attitude Inventory and Clinical Global Assessment Scale. Findings: In study groups, the reasons for hospitalization, medication usage, support for taking medication, and the need to remind were found not to be different. BBIO Self-efficacy subscale scores are similar in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The total scale score of RHIDS was found to be significantly higher than the scores obtained with bipolar disorder in the schizophrenic group.ITE scores were found to be significantly lower in the schizophrenic group. The distribution of the groups is similar in the response categories for the severity of KGİÖ disease, recovery and adverse effects. Conclusion: Internalized stigmatization levels of schizophrenia patients participating in the study were found to be higher than patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, drug compliance levels were lower than patients with bipolar disorder. Therefore, it can be suggested that psychiatric nurses to perceive and adapt these two concepts to examine their effects on drug compliance and to create and implement new programs in the community mental health field.