Improving Antipsychotic Adherence Among Patients With Serious Mental Illness

April 6, 2015 updated by: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Improving Antipsychotic Adherence Among Patients With Schizophrenia

This is a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of a pharmacy-based intervention designed to improve adherence with antipsychotic medications among patients with serious mental illness.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background: Anti-psychotic medications are an essential component of the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Unfortunately, pharmacy data indicate that 40% of VA patients with schizophrenia are poorly adherent with their antipsychotics. These patients are at much greater risk for hospitalization. Objectives: We are examining the effectiveness of a practical, pharmacy-based intervention for improving antipsychotic adherence among patients with serious mental illness (SMI). Specifically, we are examining whether this pharmacy-based intervention increases antipsychotic medication adherence and patient satisfaction with care and decreases psychiatric symptoms, and inpatient utilization. We are also examining the relative effectiveness of the pharmacy-based intervention among patients with varying: a) degrees of cognitive limitations, b) degrees of insight into their illness, and c) attitudes towards their medications. Methods: Using pharmacy and administrative data, we are identifying patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or severe bipolar disorder requiring antipsychotic medication who have had poor antipsychotic adherence in the previous year. Patients must have completed at least two outpatient psychiatric visits at one of the study sites. Patients are randomized to: 1) usual care; or 2) the Pharmacy Based intervention. The pharmacy-based intervention consists of usual care plus: 1) "unit-of-use" adherence packaging; 2) a patient education session; 3) refill reminders; and 4) clinician notification of missed fills. In-person patient assessments are conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months following randomization. Medical record and administrative data will be collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months following randomization. The primary outcome measure is medication adherence as measured by the medication possession ratio and adherence categories which combine pharmacy information with patient self-report and antipsychotic blood levels. Patients� level of psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and satisfaction are secondary outcome measures. In supplemental analyses, we will compare the effectiveness of the pharmacy-based intervention among subgroups of patients who have varying degrees of cognitive limitations, insight into their illness, and attitudes towards antipsychotic medication. Findings: One hundred and fifty patients have been enrolled in the study. Follow-up rates have been high, with 90% of patients completing 6 month follow up assessments and 80% completing 12 month assessments. In person follow up visits are now complete.

Findings regarding the accuracy of administrative diagnoses of schizophrenia, the accuracy of pharmacy data in identifying patients with poor adherence, and patient factors associated with study recruitment have been presented at national meetings. Main study analyses are now ongoing. 6. Status: Enrollment and inperson-patient follow up are complete. Study analyses are now in progress. Impact: Improving adherence among SMI patients is critical to improving their outcomes. This study examines the effectiveness of a practical, low-cost intervention to for these vulnerable patients.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

150

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92161
        • VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
    • Illinois
      • Hines, Illinois, United States, 60141-5000
        • Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL
    • Massachusetts
      • East Orange, Massachusetts, United States, 07018
        • East Orange Campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48105
        • VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
    • Rhode Island
      • Detroit, Rhode Island, United States, 48201
        • John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must be adult veterans. Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder. At least one active oral antipsychotic prescription. History of poor medication compliance.

Exclusion Criteria:

Have received depot antipsychotics in the last year. Have supervised medication administration. Have not attended a VA outpatient appointment in the past 6 months, and none are scheduled,. Are prescribed Clozapine. Have a fatal illness with a life expectancy less than 2 years.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Arm 1
Behavioral: Unit of use medication packaging
Behavioral: Mailed reminders to patient when medication refills are due
Behavioral: Note to Mental Health Provider when refill is overdue
Procedure: Aligning all prescriptions to fall due on same date

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Medication Possession Ratio at baseline, 1-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months. Aggregate adherence categories based on MPR, anti-psychotic blood levels (present/not present) and patient self-report at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia, Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, Quality of Well-Being Scale. All to be administered at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marcia T. Valenstein, MD AB, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Principal Investigator: John Grabowski, MD, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2002

Study Completion (Actual)

September 1, 2006

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 27, 2003

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 27, 2003

First Posted (Estimate)

March 28, 2003

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 7, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2015

Last Verified

April 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IIR 01-074

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Schizophrenia

Clinical Trials on Unit of use medication packaging

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Zimbabwe

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe