Non-compliance increases risk of relapse, hospitalizations, and suicide attempts, which worsens patient's outcome. Adherence must be understood not only in terms of medication compliance but also adherence to Mental Health Therapeutic Programmes. The aim of this project is to evaluate adherence of patients with Schizophrenia to programmed appointments with psychiatrist and the influence of several factors.

Descriptive 5-year study based on attendance to consultation programmed by a physician within a rural Community Mental Health center, Sub-analysis of compliance rate will be performed based on: gender, age, Schizophrenia subtype, disease evolution, time of evolution, either oral or long-acting neuroleptic medication, family characteristics, participation in Home Visit Programme (HVP). Within records obtained from Andalucia Mental Health Information System (S.I.S.M.A.), number of programmed consultations during last 5 years, non-attended consultations, evidence of medication abandon and previously mentioned factors, will be assessed.

Characteristics of abandoning group.

1. - % non-attended visits is higher (18% vs. 11,5% of non-abandoning group).

2. - % patients under only oral treatment is higher (58% vs. 35,5% of non-abandoning group) and % under parenteral treatment is lower (42% vs. 64,5%).

3. - % Home Visits is lower (10,5% vs. 24% of non-abandoning group).

4. - Schizoaffective patients are more likely to abandon (44%) followed by residual schizophrenic patients (35%).

Actions to avoid patient's abandons include:

1. - Close follow-up of patients who start missing programmed appointments especially of schizoaffective and residual schizophrenic

2. - Parenteral treatment prescription.

3. - Enrolment to HVP.