Attitudes toward medication and the clinical variables in schizophrenia: Structural equation models

Alessandro Rossi¹, Roberta Pacifico¹, Paolo Stratta²,

¹Department of Experimental Medicine at University of L’Aquila, Institute of Clinical Research ‘Villa Serena’ Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Città S. Angelo, Italy; ²Department of Mental Health, ASL 4, L’Aquila, Italy

Objective: Our study uses data from a large clinical trial to further dissect the contributors attitude toward antipsychotic medication measured with the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) in schizophrenia.

Method: A total of 227 consecutive outpatients (140 males, 87 females) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV criteria were evaluated. Structural equation models (SEM) were used to examine the relationship between attitudes toward medication as measured with the DAI and clinical variables assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).

Results: Among four models, the data better fit a model in which attitudes toward medication (DAI-30) was predicted by PANSS Positive and Insight measures, and GAF (goodnessof-fit = 0.99).

Conclusion: The data best fit a model where the most complex interaction of insight measures and positive symptoms does predict attitudes toward medication.

Keywords: attitude toward medication, drug attitude inventory, structural equation models