Data collection
RECRUITMENT
An interview schedule was designed to elicit participants’ views on long-term antipsychotic medication use and their interest in participating in a future trial to compare a gradual, supported reduction of antipsychotic medication to maintenance treatment (the RADAR trial). The interview schedule was further developed by members of a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), consisting of service users and carers. During the interview participants received written and verbal information about the nature and designs of the proposed trial, and were given an opportunity to ask questions about it. They were then asked, “Would you consider entering a trial like this?”. They were also asked about the reasons for their response using some pre-worded options and an option for specifying another reason.Participants answered questions on demographics, contact with mental health services, their use of antipsychotics and also completed the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) [When the RADAR trial later opened for recruitment, participants who had previously consented to be contacted again were invited to participate in the trial. The numbers of those who did or did not subsequently take part in the RADAR trial were recorded. Reasons for not enrolling were recorded as either ineligible (i.e. did not meet RADAR trial criteria at the time of recruitment) or declined.