What is the dominant treatment attitude of psychiatric patients?

Background

Patients' attitude towards drug treatment is of prognostic value regarding adherence. However, few detailed analyses have been performed regarding the influencing factors of the treatment attitude of psychiatric patients.

Methods

We enrolled in the study 295 psychiatric inpatients and analyzed the data obtained using the recently developed Patient's Health Belief Questionnaire on Psychiatric Treatment (PHBQPT), the Behavioural Inhibition/ Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We created a 'dominant treatment attitude' (DTA) variable from the 5 subscales of the PHBQPT.

Results

The most common DTA was the Doctor HLOC and the rarest proved to be the Psychological Reactance. The double DTA carriers were the most frequently occurring multiple DTAs. We found that the Doctor-HLOC coupled most frequently with the Positive Aspect and the DoctorHLOC with the Internal-HLOC. The Doctor-HLOC score was higher while the BAS Fun seeking score lower in the case of patients treated for affective disorders compared to patients who belonged to the psychosis and personality disorder subgroups.

Conclusions

Screening of DTAs in psychiatric patients can provide useful information for the planning of a more effective therapeutic strategy. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2021; 23(2): 308-318).