Primary Outcome Measures:
- Percent of prescribed doses taken as assessed by the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Drug Attitude Inventory [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Modified Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Self Appraisal of Illness Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Quality of Life Interview (Short Version) [ Time Frame: Measured at Month 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Schizophrenia is a life-long brain disorder affecting approximately 1 percent of Americans each year. Schizophrenia can be extremely disabling, causing people to hear voices, experience paranoia or hallucinations, and believe that others are controlling their thoughts. Many people with schizophrenia have difficulty with remembering their scheduled doctor's appointments and with taking their medication on time because of their mental illness. Many approved medications for schizophrenia must be taken several times a day and side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and even weight gain can deter a person from consistently taking their medication on time. Therefore, this study will determine whether a 2-way pager will help people with schizophrenia to remember their doctor's appointments and to take their medication on time.
Participants in this open-label study will first complete several written tests to assess skills such as memory, attention, and problem solving. Participants will also be asked questions regarding their current symptoms and medication regimen. Participants will then be randomly assigned to receive either treatment as usual or treatment as usual and a 2-way pager for 6 months. Participants who receive a 2-way pager will attend approximately four information sessions. During these sessions, participants will learn how to program the pager and use a specially designed medication bottle cap that will record the number of bottle openings and the date and time of each opening. At designated times, the pager will vibrate or beep, alerting participants to take their medication or attend a scheduled appointment. All participants will meet weekly with a staff member for the first month and then once a month for the remaining 5 months to complete several brief questionnaires on pager use, assess medication adherence, and discuss any symptoms experienced within the past week or month. Participants will be required to bring their medication to each meeting to ensure compliance.
Purpose
