Rebelliousness in patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders-A possible predictor of attitudes towards medication

摘要

The inclusive trait of rebelliousness has a proven role both in development and in the understanding of non-psychotic psychopathologies. The present study focused on evaluating rebelliousness levels and their possible correlation with the attitude towards medication among patients suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Patient suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 75) and non-psychotic disorders (n = 53) underwent a thorough clinical evaluation. The attitude towards medication was evaluated using the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), and levels of rebelliousness via the validated rebelliousness scale. Rebelliousness was also assessed in an additional control group (n = 64). A significant negative correlation between levels of rebelliousness and the attitude towards medication was found uniquely in the schizophrenia group (r=-0.434, p< 0.001). In a regression model rebelliousness levels were found to be the strongest predictor of the attitude towards medication ((beta= -0.434, p<0.01)) compared with other demographic variables such as drug abuse (beta= -0.256, p < 0.05) and involuntary treatment (beta=0.236, p<0.05). The intriguing correlation between rebelliousness and drug attitude (as an indicator of adherence) should be further studied in additional longitudinal prospective studies.