Homelessness linked to poor antipsychotic medication adherence

Serious mental illnesses are overrepresented among homeless people. And when symptoms are not effectively managed, individuals are at a higher risk of hospitalization, arrest, victimization and even suicide.

That’s why it important for patients to take their medication regularly and continuously once it has been prescribed.

But a new study from SFU health sciences researcher Stefanie Rezansoff has found Vancouver’s homeless population demonstrates poor adherence to antipsychotic medications.

Rezansoff and the research team looked at the pharmacy records of 290 homeless individuals diagnosed with a severe mental illness.

They discovered only 12 per cent were adherent at or above the level deemed to be effective based on treatment guidelines. This is despite having full drug coverage through BC PharmaCare and good access to pharmacies.

“Treatment protocols recommend that patients receive these medications continuously once they're initiated, but this can be difficult to ensure when people are precariously housed,” says Rezansoff. “There’s a strong link between low adherence and long-term homelessness.”

The research team is currently investigating interventions to improve adherence to antipsychotic medications. Possible interventions include supported housing, prescribing long-acting injections, and initiating regular and frequent contact between patients and primary healthcare providers.

Rezansoff, a PhD candidate, conducts her research under SFU health sciences professor Julian Somers in SFU Health Sciences' Somers Research Group. She receives funding from the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.