The attitudes of schizophrenia patients toward psychiatric treatments

Evaluation of schizophrenia patients toward pychiatric treatments is important for determining the variables that can positively contribute to the treatment process. Our study enrolled 76 volunteered schizophrenia patients applied to Kahramanmaraş State Hospital and Kahramanmaraş Yenişehir State Hospital, were diagnosed as schizophrenia and were on their outpatient treatment. Initially, sociodemographic information form was filled by patients, then drug attitude inventory, treatment process evaluation questionaire and electroconvulsive treatment questionaire were applied. According to the results, 59.2 % of the patients' attitude to drug treatment were positive, 40.8 % were negative. There was not any significant correlation between sociodemographic data and attitude towards drug treatment. Concerned behaviour of doctor has been found to be effective for developing positive attitude. In addition, there was a significant correlation between attitude towards drug, drug follow-up, and no cessation of drug without doctors advice. In conclusion, doctor's behaviour to patient is believed to be one of the most important factors determining the attitude towards drug during treatment process.