Adherence therapy for people with schizophrenia. European multicentre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND There is equivocal evidence of the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving treatment adherence and clinical outcomes for people with schizophrenia. AIMS To evaluate the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving quality of life for people with schizophrenia. METHOD A 52-week, single-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of adherence therapy. Participants were individually randomised to receive eight sessions of adherence therapy or health education. Assessments were undertaken at baseline and at 52-week follow-up. RESULTS Adherence therapy was no more effective than health education in improving quality of life. CONCLUSIONS This effectiveness trial provides evidence for the lack of effect of adherence therapy in people with schizophrenia with recent clinical instability, treated in ordinary clinical settings.