Clients with schizophrenia require maintenance treatment with
antipsychotic medication and psychosocial therapy to maintain
symptom control. Rates of medication adherence or follow-through
are low in clients with schizophrenia. This increases the risk of relapse
and contributes to poor quality of life. As educators and
advisers, psychiatric nurses can collaborate with clients to improve
adherence and other outcomes using shared decision-making
techniques and tools that engage and empower clients to actively
participate in decisions about their treatment. This article outlines
effective strategies used by psychiatric nurses to improve outcomes
in clients with schizophrenia and uses a case example for demonstrating
this strategy in a client with schizophrenia.