Taking antipsychotic drugs irregularly poses significant health risks
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 88/100
Substantial clinical literature establishes that irregular use or discontinuation of antipsychotic medication carries severe health risks, most notably a dramatically increased likelihood of psychotic relapse, symptom exacerbation, and psychiatric rehospitalization.
Evidence for · 6
Poor medication adherence and risk of relapse associated with continued cannabis use in patients with first-episode psychosis: a prospective analysis
2017 · cited by 122
Di Forti et al. (2017) link antipsychotic non-adherence to an increased risk of relapse in first-episode psychosis.
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More for · 5
Financial incentives to improve adherence to medication in five patients with schizophrenia in the Netherlands.
2025 · cited by 16
Boonen et al. (2025) note that non-adherence to antipsychotic medication commonly leads to psychotic relapse and increased hospital days.
An intercultural perspective toward supporting antipsychotic medication adherence in clinical practice
2022 · cited by 7
Adelekan (2022) highlights that antipsychotic nonadherence is the leading cause of schizophrenia relapse, driving readmissions and suicide risks.
Improving Medication Adherence in Psychiatric Patients With a Medication Adherence Program
2025 · cited by 3
Adefisoye et al. (2025) find that nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment compromises patient safety and directly precipitates relapse and rehospitalization.
An exploratory study on the impact of medication usage patterns on relapse among community schizophrenia patients.
2026 · cited by 0
Wang et al. (2026) report that inadequate treatment and non-standard medication practices significantly increase the risk of relapse in schizophrenia patients.
Psychological intervention to enhance adherence to antipsychotic medication among patients with severe mental illnesses in Zambia: A Pilot Study
2026 · cited by 0
Mbewe et al. (2026) observe that skipping antipsychotic medication contributes to severe outcomes, including high relapse rates and functional impairment.