INFORMED CONSENT AND TARDIVE-DYSKINESIA - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Informed consent allows patients to make treatment decisions based on the best possible information. The current study examines the long-ter m impact of the informed consent process on schizophrenic patients. Pa tients were administered a baseline questionnaire and were given an in formation form, which was read aloud to them by the investigator. Pati ents were re-administered the questionnaire at 4 weeks and were random ly assigned to no review (single-session group) or a review of the inf ormation (educational review group). All patients were administered th e questionnaire at 2-year follow-up. Both the single session and the e ducational review process significantly increase the schizophrenic pat ient's knowledge about the benefits and risks of neuroleptic medicatio n. No previous study has examined the impact of informed consent for a ntipsychotic medication at 2-year follow-up.