Abstract
Background: Antipsychotic medications are very effective in mitigating the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. However, patients receiving these medications often develop side effects with therapy. Side effects to antipsychotic medications is a global problem resulting in non-compliance, relapse, and re-hospitalizations.
Objectives: The study aimed to identify the prevalence of adverse reactions and side effects experienced by patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotic medication, as well as the prevalence of readmissions to the Bellevue Hospital due to medication noncompliance.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done among forty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia admitted to acute and sub-acute care wards at the Bellevue Hospital. Patients’ data were collected through semi-structured interviews using the Side Effects Scale Checklist for Antipsychotic Medication (SESCAM) tool and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.
Results: Thirty-one (70.5%) respondents were male while 13 (29.5%) were female. The mean age of the respondent patients was 34.11 ± 6.038. All patients interviewed experienced one or more side effects of medication therapy, the most common side effects identified were urinary problems (62.9%), sexual problems (54.5%) and looking sleepy (45.5%) and blurred vision (34.1%) No adverse reactions were reported among the respondents. Majority of the respondents (59.1%) reported at least two admissions in twelve months due to medication noncompliance, while 32% were readmitted due to social conflict. Negative side effects (87%) were cited as the main reason for medication noncompliance.
Conclusions: Negative side effects of antipsychotic therapy result in medication noncompliance and subsequent readmissions. Careful monitoring of patients' side effects as well as education of patients and families will improve preparedness, increase medication compliance and give great support to the recovery process while reducing recurrent admissions.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Omega Kappa
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Clinical Practice, Promoting Clinical Outcomes, Antipsychotic Medication Side Effects, Schizophrenic Patients, Readmission Rates, Readmission Rates Related to Medication Side Effects
Recommended Citation
Chisholm-Ford, Sandra Lorraine, "Side Effects of Antipsychotics Impacting the Revolving Door of Admissions at The Bellevue Hospital" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 199.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/199
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-08
Side Effects of Antipsychotics Impacting the Revolving Door of Admissions at The Bellevue Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: Antipsychotic medications are very effective in mitigating the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. However, patients receiving these medications often develop side effects with therapy. Side effects to antipsychotic medications is a global problem resulting in non-compliance, relapse, and re-hospitalizations.
Objectives: The study aimed to identify the prevalence of adverse reactions and side effects experienced by patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotic medication, as well as the prevalence of readmissions to the Bellevue Hospital due to medication noncompliance.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done among forty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia admitted to acute and sub-acute care wards at the Bellevue Hospital. Patients’ data were collected through semi-structured interviews using the Side Effects Scale Checklist for Antipsychotic Medication (SESCAM) tool and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.
Results: Thirty-one (70.5%) respondents were male while 13 (29.5%) were female. The mean age of the respondent patients was 34.11 ± 6.038. All patients interviewed experienced one or more side effects of medication therapy, the most common side effects identified were urinary problems (62.9%), sexual problems (54.5%) and looking sleepy (45.5%) and blurred vision (34.1%) No adverse reactions were reported among the respondents. Majority of the respondents (59.1%) reported at least two admissions in twelve months due to medication noncompliance, while 32% were readmitted due to social conflict. Negative side effects (87%) were cited as the main reason for medication noncompliance.
Conclusions: Negative side effects of antipsychotic therapy result in medication noncompliance and subsequent readmissions. Careful monitoring of patients' side effects as well as education of patients and families will improve preparedness, increase medication compliance and give great support to the recovery process while reducing recurrent admissions.
Description
Antipsychotics are effective in mitigating symptoms of schizophrenia, however, patients often develop side effects resulting in noncompliance and re-hospitalization. A descriptive cross-sectional survey among 44 patients at the Bellevue Hospital identified urinary and sexual problems as the most common negative side effects. These were cited as the cause of medication noncompliance and readmissions. Educating patients and relatives may support the recovery process and reduce recurrent admissions.