“Choosing your Own Path”: Patterns of Use of Psychiatric Medication among Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

Most individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are advised to take psychiatric medication, but about half of them do not take it as prescribed. The binary concepts of “adherence” and “non-adherence” do not seem to capture the actual patterns of medication use. The current study mapped the different patterns of medication use among people with SMI and explored the characteristics of each pattern. Sixteen participants diagnosed with an SMI that used psychiatric medications for at least one year, were interviewed, and data were analyzed using ideal-type analysis. Analysis revealed four patterns of medication use: (1) adherence without doubt; (2) adherence after attempts to stop/reduce; (3) flexible use over time; and (4) tapering off medication. Individuals may shift between these different patterns in their recovery journey, creating the need for tailored therapeutic interventions that adapt to individuals’ evolving needs, beliefs, and preferences.