Reasons for non-compliance to treatment among patients with psychiatric illness: A qualitative study

Abstract

About 20-25% of all general practice attendees suffer from significant psychiatric illnesses. Non-compliance to treatment has always been one of the biggest challenges to GPs world wide. Apart from treatment failures, non-compliance to treatment is one of the main causes of relapse and re-hospitalisation world wide. Non-compliance to treatment is a complex phenomena that is associated with various factors related to the illness, medications and health care delivery system. Existing literature suggest that many psychiatric patients do not believe in the biological basis of their illness. Hence lack of understanding and lack of confidence in "Western" approach is a major contributor for non-compliance in such patients. Several investigators report that lack of insight into the illness and poor understanding of the chronic nature of psychiatric conditions contribute greatly to non-compliance. However, other studies suggest that poor insight may not fully explain this behaviour.