To investigate the feasibility, and patient/psychiatrist acceptability, of an SMS text messaging system reminding patients receiving quetiapine to take their medication.

8-12(mean:9.4) week, non-interventional, psychiatrist assessed, pilot study of 27 outpatients receiving quetiapine (mean age[range]: 35.3[19-57] years). Patients were asked to reply to SMS messages sent twice daily to their cellular phone to remind them to take their medication (morning) and enquire about their well-being (evening). Patients' response (morning-yes/no; evening-positive/negative/neutral) was monitored by psychiatrists (n=7) via a website, and subsequently used to assess technical feasibility. Psychiatrists rated acceptability and feasibility of the system by completing case report forms (CRFs). Data are from the LOCF population.

Patients responded to 77% (compliance) of the 5,000 SMS messages sent (84% correctly, 13% inaccurately, 3% responded late [eg, day after]). 7/27 patients withdrew prematurely. The most common benefits expressed by patients were that they felt cared for (n=11/21) and were reminded to take their medication (n=7/21). Psychiatrists' ratings of the system improved over time, with SMS compliance and increased patient contact seen as the most valuable aspects. At study end, CRF data showed psychiatrists felt the system was valuable to 19/22 patients, 16/24 patients remained compliant with the system and 16/22 patients felt the frequency of SMS messages was acceptable. There was a strong correlation between patients giving positive well-being responses and SMS compliance (R Pearson=0.72, p<0.001).

The high levels of SMS compliance and benefits expressed by patients and psychiatrists support a larger-scale assessment of this system.