Digital and Biomarker-Based Monitoring for Schizophrenia-Treatment Adherence
AI Summary
Nonadherence affects nearly half of patients with schizophrenia, causing relapse, rehospitalisation, suicidality, and diminished quality of life; optimising adherence is critical.
Digital pills detect adherence above 95%, wearables track behavioural and physiological markers, and biomarker and aptamer technologies enable precise, noninvasive antipsychotic monitoring.
Integration of wearable and biomarker data plus AI enables evidence-based decisions, forecasting lapses; multidisciplinary collaboration is needed to address ethical, infrastructural, and financial barriers.
BACKGROUND: Nonadherence to antipsychotics affects nearly half of patients with schizophrenia, leading to rehospitalization, suicidality, and reduced quality of life. Optimizing treatment adherence is critical to prevent disease relapses, which can be life-threatening. This review provides an updated status of innovative efforts in ensuring treatment adherence and the challenges associated. It also addresses future directions to improve treatment outcomes among patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS: A narrative review was thoroughly conducted by retrieving peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Articles relevant to the aim of the review and published in English were reviewed and analyzed. A total of 76 articles were included in the final report.
RESULTS: Digital pills have demonstrated adherence detection rates reaching above 95%. Wearable devices such as smart watches collect real-time behavioral and physiological data such as sleep patterns, heart rate variability, and physical activity that reflect adherence or emerging relapse. These metrics enable clinicians to customize interventions according to the patient adherence profile, allowing shared decision-making during treatment. Besides, the biomarker-based monitoring system provides more precise tracking, thus reducing the risk of an unsuitable treatment switch. Aptamer-based technologies also provide ultrasensitive and noninvasive adherence monitoring through the detection of antipsychotics in body fluids.
CONCLUSION: Integration of wearable and biomarker data enables clinicians to make evidence-based pharmacological decisions while treating schizophrenic patients. Artificial intelligence promises to facilitate this integration by forecasting medication lapses and suggesting personalized solutions. To fully revolutionize adherence in schizophrenia treatment, pharmacists, psychiatrists, bioengineers, and policymakers should collaborate to address ethical, infrastructural, and financial barriers present in this practice.
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