Conceptualization and Study of Antipsychotic Medication Use: From Adherence to Patterns of Use

Despite treatment guidelines recommending antipsychotic medication (APM) as the frontline treatment for schizophrenia, its use remains a controversial topic, and nonadherence rates range between 40% and 60%. At the heart of the debate lies a divergence of views about the tradeoffs between side effects and efficacy, particularly over the long term. This Open Forum describes a series of challenges pertaining to the conceptualization and operationalization of APM use. The authors suggest pragmatic recommendations oriented toward shifting the dialogue from often-polarized positions about APM to a transformed research culture prioritizing service users' choices about diverse utilization patterns.