Correlates of preferring a passive role in decision-making among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Abstract

Objective: To assess the factors associated with the persistence of clinician-led style in the therapeutic relationship in cases of serious mental illness, and the conditioning factors that the patients identify as determinants of their health.

Method: Assessment of preferences in the decision-making process and health-related control locus of 107 outpatients with DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Demographic and clinical information was also obtained through review of available records and using several scales.

Results: 64.4 % patients preferred to adopt a passive role in the therapeutic relationship. In the multivariate analysis, the preference of playing a passive role in the decision-making process was significantly associated with the elderly, being disabled, or the view that one's health depends on doctors (AUC ROC value: 0.80).

Conclusions: Patients with severe mental illness more frequently preferred a passive role in the decision-making process. We found several factors associated with a preference for the "expert role" model.

Practice implications: The identified factors may permit care to be tailored to the most probable expectations as regard decision-making. Since the populations concerned may be vulnerable and suffer inequalities in the provision of health services, promoting participation in the care process could help improve clinical parameters ethically.