A comparison of patients' and prescribers' beliefs about neuroleptic side-effects: prevalence, distress and causation.

Neuroleptic side-effects adversely affect clinical outcome in schizophrenic patients. Clinicians therefore require an understanding of the impact of such side-effects. This study compared psychiatrists' estimates of the prevalence of neuroleptic side-effects and associated distress with schizophrenic patients' reports of side-effects and distress. Psychiatrists were asked to estimate the likelihood of informing patients about side-effects. Psychiatrists' estimates of prevalence but not of distress correlated significantly with patients' reports. Psychiatrists' avowed decisions to inform patients about side-effects were significantly correlated with their estimates of prevalence and distress, but not with patients' reported levels of distress. Patients were unlikely to attribute side-effects to neuroleptic medication. These results indicate that patients and psychiatrists share similar views about the prevalence and implications of neuroleptic side-effects. However, psychiatrists' apparent lack of understanding of which side-effects are most likely to cause distress to patients may adversely affect the therapeutic alliance between prescribers and consumers.