RESEARCH ARTICLE r

40 Adler Street, London, UK Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground It is well documented that, when it comes to utilising treatments for psychotic illness, service user behaviour does not always coincide with clinical prescription. While there are variations in the way in which adherence is de-fined and measured, and difficulties in obtaining an accur-ate measurement [1-3], it is estimated that up to half, and possibly more service users with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder do not follow treatment recommendations[3-6]. Studies of adherence suggest further that there is a cor-relation between non-adherence and poor outcomes for the patient and his/her social group. Medication non-adherence in particular is thought to raise the risk of psychotic relapse by a factor of three to five [5], and i