INFORMED CONSENT AND ANTIPSYCHOTIC USE IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA- ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Informed consent to treatment should, in principle, be sought from all schizophrenic patients who are receiving antipsychotic drugs. To achi eve this the patient needs to be competent to consent, receive adequat e information and not be under duress. For a patient to be fully infor med, information needs to be supplied on the nature of the treatment, the alternatives available and the potential risks of treatment, inclu ding tardive dyskinesia. Although many clinicians are reluctant to giv e such information, believing it may reduce compliance, there is littl e evidence for such an effect, and, in fact, this process is likely to foster a stronger therapeutic relationship. It is important that info rmed consent be regarded as an ongoing process rather than a one-off e vent and that it is documented in this manner.