Rebelliousness in patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders--a possible predictor of attitudes towards medication

Abstract

The inclusive trait of rebelliousness has a proven role both in development and in the understanding of non-psychotic psychopathologies. The present study focused on evaluating rebelliousness levels and their possible correlation with the attitude towards medication among patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Patient suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n=75) and non-psychotic disorders (n=53) underwent a thorough clinical evaluation. The attitude towards medication was evaluated using the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), and levels of rebelliousness via the validated rebelliousness scale. Rebelliousness was also assessed in an additional control group (n=64). A significant negative correlation between levels of rebelliousness and the attitude towards medication was found uniquely in the schizophrenia group (r=-0.434, p<0.001). In a regression model rebelliousness levels were found to be the strongest predictor of the attitude towards medication ((β=-0.434, p<0.01)) compared with other demographic variables such as drug abuse (β=-0.256, p<0.05) and involuntary treatment (β=0.236, p<0.05). The intriguing correlation between rebelliousness and drug attitude (as an indicator of adherence) should be further studied in additional longitudinal prospective studies.

Keywords: Adherence; Compliance; Drug; Schizophrenia.