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Lookup NU author(s): Marie Pope
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Background: The prevalence of nonadherence with mood stabilizers ranges from about 18% to 52%. Only 1% of publications on mood stabilizers address this issue. This Study aimed to explore the prevalence and predictors of nonadherence in a cohort of individuals with affective disorders receiving long-term treatment with mood stabilizers. Method: Subjects receiving lithium. carbamazepine, and/or valproate were identified from biochemistry laboratory data. Ninety-eight of these subjects had major depressive disorder (N = 20) or bipolar disorder (N = 78) (DSM-IV) and gave informed consent to participate in a structured clinical interview to assess their medication adherence and the factors that influenced it. Results: Just under 50% of subjects (46/98) acknowledged some degree of medication nonadherence in the previous 2 years, and 32% (29/92) reported only partial adherence in the last month (missing 30% or more of their prescribed medication). Backward stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that partially adherent subjects were best distinguished from adherent subjects by a more frequent past history of nonadherence. denial of severity of illness, and greater duration of being prescribed a mood stabilizer. Conclusion; Rates of mood stabilizer nonadherence are high. Attitudes and behaviors are better predictors of nonadherence than side effects from medication. Clinicians need to inquire routinely about problems with adherence.
Author(s): Scott J, Pope M
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Year: 2002
Volume: 63
Issue: 5
Pages: 384-390
ISSN (print): 0160-6689
ISSN (electronic): 1555-2101
Publisher: Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4088/JCP.v63n0502
DOI: 10.4088/JCP.v63n0502
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