OBJECTIVES : To describe and compare demographics, outcomes and comorbidities in schizophrenia patients by level of compliance with current treatment.

METHODS : A cross-sectional survey was conducted in USA from January to May 2014 through the Adelphi Schizophrenia Disease Specific Programme. Inclusion criteria comprised hospital/office-based psychiatrists who had been practicing for 2-40 years at time of study, saw ≥6 schizophrenia patients per week and were personally responsible for treatment decisions. Participating physicians provided information on their next 10 consulting schizophrenia patients aged ≥18, with the same patients invited to voluntarily complete a patient self-completion form (PSC). Patients were grouped for analysis as sometimes compliant (SC) or always compliant (AC) using physician reported adherence to current treatment (non-compliant patients excluded).

RESULTS : Physicians (n=150) provided data on 1489 patients (including 706 SC and 636 AC), of whom 680 completed a PSC. Patient’s average age was 41 SC and 42 AC, majority were male (59% and 52% respectively, p=0.021) with mean BMI of 28.9 for both groups, and SC patients significantly more likely to be unemployed (65% vs 41% AC, p<0.001). In the last 12 months 36% SC patients had been hospitalized vs 16% AC (p<0.001) and had mean of 2.3 vs 2.0 (p=0.007) comorbidities respectively. Poor-very poor Q-LES-Q overall life satisfaction was reported by 24% SC patients and 11% AC (p<0.001) with overall scores of 49.7 and 56.2 (p<0.001) respectively. Poorer quality of life was also reported through mean EQ5D VAS scores (64.6 SC vs 68.9 AC p=0.01). Patients reported mean WPAI percentages of 34.2 SC vs 31.0 AC for overall work impairment (p=0.44) and 47.5 SC vs 42.7 AC (p=0.038) for daily activities impairment.

CONCLUSIONS : Poorer outcomes and increased likelihood of hospitalization are evident in Schizophrenia patients who are sometimes compliant with current treatment compared to those who are always compliant.