Medication compliance
Differing terms are used for compliance, including concordance and adherence. This chapter examines the range of obstacles to compliance, including side effects, lack of insight, lack of effectiveness, and resistance to being reminded of the illness. The influence of family and friends is also considered. We believe it is often best to avoid complex explanations, and just accept that it is difficult to remember to take medicines regularly for months and years. Several strategies exist to improve compliance, including depot preparations, psycho-education, and efforts to strengthen the therapeutic relationship. Compliance therapy, based on motivational interviewing, is described in detail. The outreach worker is also uniquely able to rely on prompting and support as well as careful monitoring and structuring the clinical interview to ensure that compliance is regularly assessed. Supporting compliance is a long-term commitment, not a once-off intervention.
