Non-compliance with treatment in patients suffering from schizophrenia: a study to evaluate possible contributing factors. 
Various factors have been associated with non-compliance with treatment in schizophrenia.  The aim of this study was to examine this association using standardised measures.  Compliance was determined and socio-demographic and illness variables recorded.  Insight, subjective response to medication and relative's knowledge and attitude about schizophrenia were measured.  Non-compliant patients were younger, had shorter durations of illness, had an episodic course of illness, reported side-effects less frequently, made incorrect attributions to current positive symptoms more frequently and had a more negative subjective response to medication.  Key relatives of non-compliant patients were more often employed.  Patients need to experience for themselves the merits of taking medication before accepting the need to take them long-term.  Psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral interventions need to be targeted at changing attributions to current positive symptoms.  The presence of a key person in the community is crucial to improve compliance.