Does religiosity in persons with schizophrenia influence medication adherence

BACKGROUND: Little information is available regarding the effect of religiosity and spirituality on medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the association of medication adherence with different aspects of religiosity and spirituality in patients with schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with schizophrenia were evaluated on religiousness measure scale and Duke Religion Index (DUREL); Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE); World Health Organization Quality of Life Spirituality, Religiosity, and Personal Beliefs (WHOQoL-SRPB); and Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS). RESULTS: A higher level of religiosity as assessed by the religiousness measure scale, private religious activities and intrinsic religiosity as per DUREL, positive religious coping, and all the domains of WHOQOL-SRPB was associated with better medication compliance as assessed by the percentage of doses of medications consumed in the last 1 month as evaluated by using BARS. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that a higher level of religiosity and spirituality were associated with better medication compliance.