Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:801-803
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Attitudes toward medication change among chronically impaired psychiatric patients
IM Lesser and CT Friedmann
As the hazards of long-term use of psychotropic drugs become more apparent,
drug holidays and medication discontinuance are increasingly being
implemented. Chronically ill patients are often reluctant to cooperate with
such treatment recommendations. The authors questioned 52 chronically
impaired patients taking neuroleptics about their attitudes toward
medication changes and their fantasies about the results of discontinuing
their medication. Although they were seemingly compliant, the majority of
the patients anticipated severe negative consequences.
