Low Adherence Found in First-Episode Psychosis Patients
A recent study found fewer than 20% of young patients maintained consistent antipsychotic treatment regimens.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Mental Health
Live Poll
Is the current mental health system doing enough to help young patients stay on prescribed treatments?
A study of 11,889 individuals aged 15 to 40 revealed that only 19.1% of young patients adhered to antipsychotic medication over the year following a first episode of psychosis. Participants maintained medication coverage for an average of just 43.3% of the year.
Why it matters
Low adherence is linked to increased reliance on emergency departments rather than outpatient services. Younger patients may struggle with treatment consistency due to limited insight into illness severity and uncertainty regarding long-term medication use.
Researchers tracked 11,889 patients aged 15 to 40 using the Merative MarketScan database. Adherence rates varied by diagnosis, with 23.1% of schizophrenia spectrum patients and 16.9% of mood disorder patients remaining on treatment.
The players
Merative MarketScan
This is a comprehensive commercial insurance database frequently used to conduct large-scale health outcomes research in the United States.
The details
Patients primarily received oral antipsychotics at the start of treatment, accounting for 95.4% of the cohort. Higher adherence was associated with a 0.85 incidence rate ratio for emergency department visits and a 1.53 ratio for outpatient behavioral health visits.
Timeline
The study analyzed insurance claims spanning from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2021.
The Big Picture
This study highlights a significant gap between the ideal outcomes intended by the first-episode psychosis treatment standards and the real-world medication adherence rates observed in young patients. The findings underscore the difficulty of maintaining long-term care plans for this population.
Patients and their families may need to prioritize discussions with healthcare providers regarding the benefits of long-acting injectables to improve adherence. Consistent engagement with outpatient services is linked to reduced emergency department visits for those on treatment.
The takeaway
Consistent medication adherence is a critical factor in shifting care toward outpatient settings and away from acute emergency settings. Developing stronger support systems for young adults during the first year of treatment remains a vital challenge for healthcare providers.
Further reading
For more information on similar research trends, visit the Mental Health section.
More information
View the Original peer-reviewed study for a complete breakdown of the findings.
Live Poll
Is the current mental health system doing enough to help young patients stay on prescribed treatments?
