Adherence to Antipsychotic Medications for Individuals With Schizophrenia (SAA)

The percentage of persons 18 years of age and older during the measurement period, with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, who were dispensed and remained on an antipsychotic medication for at least 80% of their treatment period.  

Why It Matters

Nonadherence to treatment with antipsychotics is common among people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and medication nonadherence is a significant cause of relapse (1,3).  

Patients with schizophrenia require the long-term use of medication to manage symptoms and to improve psychosocial functioning (2). Medication adherence is necessary to improve symptoms and relapse. Non-adherence increases risk of re-hospitalization, emergency psychiatric treatment, functional decline and death. Medication non-adherence rates for schizophrenic patients ranges between 56%-60%.  

Measuring antipsychotic medication adherence may encourage efforts aimed at reducing medication nonadherence and, in turn, lead to lower relapse rates and fewer hospitalizations. This may help close the gap in care between people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and the general population. 

*Adapted by NCQA with permission of the measure developer, CMS. 

Historical Results – National Averages

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References

  1. Alvarez-Jimenez, M., A. Priede, S. E. Hetrick, S. Bendall, E. Killackey, A. G. Parker, P. D. McGorry, and J. F. Gleeson. 2012. “Risk Factors for Relapse Following Treatment for First Episode Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.” Schizophrenia Research 139 (1–3): 116–28.   
  2. Mohammed, F., Geda, B., Yadeta, T.A. et al. Antipsychotic medication non-adherence and factors associated among patients with schizophrenia in eastern Ethiopia. BMC Psychiatry 24, 108 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05554-0 
  3. Olfson, M., S.C. Marcus, and G.J. Wan. 2009. “Treatment Patterns for Schizoaffective Disorder and Schizophrenia Among Medicaid Patients.” Psychiatric Services 60 (2): 210–16. 

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