In exploratory analyses, we examined the patterns
of system contacts (medication refills and
treatment visits) among the subset of poorly adherent
patients on one antipsychotic who had
270 days of outpatient follow-up (n 14,485)
Thirteen percent of these poorly adherent patients
had no contiguous gaps in antipsychotic
refills longer than a month, suggesting they took
slightly less medication than prescribed over long
periods of time or had short periods of discontinuation.
Fifty-four percent had no contiguous gaps
in antipsychotic fills longer than 3 months.
Many poorly adherent patients who had long
gaps in refills (3 months) maintained some
degree of contact with the VA Health care system.
Only 28% dropped out of treatment with gaps of
3 months in both prescription fills and system
contacts (in or outpatient).