The Effect of Guideline Implementation Strategies on Akathisia Outcomes in Schizophrenia

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a conceptually driven, multicomponent strategy for implementing guidelines to improve akathisia in schizophrenia. Methods: Patients included in the study were recruited from 6 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) that were split into geographically matched pairs with 3 VAMCs receiving basic education and 3 receiving enhanced intervention to promote guideline-concordant treatment and patient adherence. Results: Of 293 patients with baseline and 6-month follow-up Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) scores, results of both nonparametric and parametric repeated measures ANOVA showed several significant Vol. 3, No. 4, Fall 2003 • The Journal of Applied Research 470 The Effect of Guideline Implementation Strategies on Akathisia Outcomes in Schizophrenia D. Keith Williams, PhD* Carol R. Thrush, MA† Tracey L. Armitage, MS† Richard R. Owen, MD† Teresa J. Hudson, PharmD† Purushottham Thapa, MD† *Division of Biometry at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR. †VA Health Services Research and Development Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UAMS in Little Rock, AR.