Objective: Determine the prevalence and the factors associated with non – adherence to pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics in patients with schizophreniaMethods: Cross-sectional study of 184 patients treated at La Paz Clinic in Bogotá between 2008 to 2009.Previous informed consent, information was collected and checked of a questionnaire about non – adherence. Results: The prevalence of nonadherence was 51.2%. The variables that showed a statistically significant association with non-adherence to drug treatment are to belong to the socioeconomic strata I and II (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.79) as patients who had primary level of education (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.07 - 1.93). Likewise, in psychoactive substance use and alcohol use, lifetime marijuana use showed a significant association with non-adherence. Patients who reported having first degree relatives with a history of mental illness demonstrated a significant association with non-adherence to pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12 -1.94); Of the reported first-degree relatives with a history mental illness, who demonstrated a statistically significant association was the mother (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.36 - 2.31). The factors that explain the event were: the time when delivered drugs and failure to fully received the drugs in the last month, acting like the most likely factors associated with non - adherence therapeutic.Conclusions: History of mental illness in a first degree, inadequate access to health services, psychoactive substances use, and some adverse effects of antipsychotics were factors associated with non-adherence.Keywords: Schizophrenia, patient adherence, risk factors, antipsychotics.
