Ordinary logic in unordinary lay theories: a key to understanding proneness to medication nonadherence in schizophrenia

Abstract

This article examines attitudes of people with schizophrenia toward their medical treatment within the context of the general theories that they develop about their condition. In-depth interviews were conducted with 36 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia, and the findings were analyzed by the constant comparative method. Five theories, focusing on the basic concepts of body, machine, war, mission, and nature, were detected, thus yielding a typology enabling different patients' proneness to medication nonadherence to be explained and predicted. Conclusions are drawn in relation to improving medication management and communication between patients and health care providers.