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Personal responsibility and psychoactive drug taking behavior in discharged mental patients

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Abstract

Certain demographic factors related to the taking or nontaking of prescribed psychoactive drugs following discharge from a psychiatric hospital are isolated in this study. Seventy-four patients, 23 male and 41 female, were evaluated during their first two weeks of hospitalization and approximately six months after their release. Follow-up data were collected in the patient's home by a trained investigator who was able to ascertain the patient's compliance in the taking of prescribed medication and his level of behavioral functioning following discharge. Those items significantly differentiating the drug takers from the drug avoiders were tabulated, and tentative descriptions of the two groups were offered. In general, drug avoiders are highly mobile and unstable in their residence, marriage, employment history, and other social behaviors such as church attendance, while those following prescribed drug therapy are more settled and conforming.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Asheville-Bilmore College, USA

    Kenneth S. Nickerson Ph.D. (Psychologist, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology)

  2. South Carolina State Hospital, USA

    Kenneth S. Nickerson Ph.D. (Psychologist, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology)

  3. South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Columbia, S.C.

    Arliss J. Epps B.S. (Behavioral Science Research Assistant)

  4. University of South Carolina, USA

    Robert V. Heckel Ph.D. (Psychologist, Professor of Psychology)

Authors
  1. Kenneth S. Nickerson Ph.D.
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  2. Arliss J. Epps B.S.
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  3. Robert V. Heckel Ph.D.
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Additional information

He was formerly Coordinator of Behavioral Science Research

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Hoffman-LaRoche, Smith Kline & French, Sandoz, Squibb, and Geigy, for their support in sponsoring this study, and to Dr. Charles W. Whatley, Jr., for formulating and initiating the original project, “A Biosociological Study of Psychoactive Drugs” out of which the present study developed. The authors also wish to thank P. G. Reeves, Jr., Charles W. Perry, and the other project personnel of National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH-01028 for cooperation in the data collection.

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Nickerson, K.S., Epps, A.J. & Heckel, R.V. Personal responsibility and psychoactive drug taking behavior in discharged mental patients. Community Ment Health J 2, 202–204 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01419680

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01419680

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