Noncompliance in neurologic patients.

Patient compliance is essential for optimal therapeutic outcome. However, medical noncompliance remains a significant issue in the treatment of many neurologic disorders. Neurologic patients are particularly vulnerable to poor treatment adherence. The chronic and often relapsing and remitting course of neurologic illness creates challenges in maintaining treatment compliance. In addition, comorbid psychiatric conditions can contribute to noncompliance. Decreasing the complexity of dosing schedules, addressing side effect concerns, recognizing financial impact of treatment, and addressing comorbid psychiatric illness all can help to improve compliance. Potentially, the most effective methods to improve compliance include improving the doctor patient relationship, increasing a patient's social support system, and maximizing patient education.