The effects of an adherence therapy approach in a secure forensic hospital: a randomised controlled trial

Objective

To examine the effects of an ‘adherence therapy’ approach on medication compliance and attitudes towards medication in forensic psychiatric inpatients.

Method

Forty-eight patients in a statewide forensic psychiatric hospital were randomly assigned to receive either eight sessions of adherence therapy (n = 24) or eight sessions of standard health education (n = 24). Outcome measures, collected before and after treatment, included medication adherence, psychopathology, drug attitudes and treatment engagement.

Results

An analysis of covariance revealed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes towards medication than the control group following treatment. T-tests showed a significant 35% point increase in the experimental group’s compliance ratings from baseline to post-treatment. Finally, chi-square analyses demonstrated that doctors were less concerned about the future medication adherence of patients from the experimental group who were discharged within three months of receiving treatment.

Conclusion

Further trials of adherence therapy with forensic populations are warranted.

Keywords:

• medication adherence
• forensic patients
• mentally ill offenders
• adherence therapy