Psychotropic Medication Resistance

In this final installment of my blog series on helping clients overcome resistance to psychotropic medication I address how fear impacts decision making. Previous posts have examined The Shame Factor, Family Interference and Ambivalence. 4. Fear. Two often expressed issues that invoke clients' fear of psychotropic medication are: (a) medication will, in some way, "change who they are," or alter their personality, and (b) although their troublesome symptoms may improve, intolerable side effects will be possibly worse than the illness [...]

The third reason fostering client resistance to psychotropic medication is ambivalence. Here I address that issue, and how you can help. 3. Ambivalence. Practitioners at all levels of experience know that getting clients to overcome their resistance toward psychotropic medication is not necessarily easy. Many clients assess the odds associated with considering medication options for some time before making the commitment to following through with pharmacotherapy as part of the treatment process. A client's decision therefore may be long and [...]

Last week, I discussed the "shame factor" as a reason for psychotropic medication resistance and/or refusal, and addressed some ways for helping your clients overcome shame issues. This week's post focuses on family interference and how you can help. 2. Family Interference. Face it clinicians, family members are our de-facto healthcare specialists. They have likely witnessed the unpredictability and even the anguish associated with the mental health struggles of their ill family member -- your client. In this sense, they [...]

Why are some clients so resistant to the use of psychotropic medication? After all, it is a treatment strategy that has garnered rather widespread acceptance as an option for treating a vast array of mental health maladies isn't it? Over my next four blog entries, I'll address four common reasons why clients refuse or even downright resist medication, together with strategies you can utilize to assist them to better comprehend why medication just might be a viable alternative for their [...]