Adherence to Psychotropic and Nonpsychotropic Medication Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder and General Medical Conditions

Abstract

Objective This descriptive study assessed the relationship between non-adherence to psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications in 88 patients non-adherent to bipolar treatment. Methods This descriptive study was part of a clinical trial promoting medication adherence. Non-adherence was defined as ≥20% of days with missed doses. Results The majority was female with Type I bipolar disorder, 49% had hypertension, 39% hyperlipidemia, 69% smoked, average BMI was 34, and 64% were obese. Median number of days with missed doses was 53.57% (IQR= 38.10–73.40%) and 33.93% (IQR= 13.81–51.91%) for psychotropics and non-psychotropics, respectively. There is a significant difference between non-adherence to psychotropic and non-psychotropic medication for past week (Z=−4.11, p<.001) and past month (Z=−4.19, p<.001). More global psychopathology related to non-psychotropic non-adherence. Conclusions Psychotropic adherence was worse than non-psychotropic adherence, yet both were poor. Improving adherence to CV medications is a reasonable pathway to improve CV health in this population.

Patient participation in the development of a customized m-Health intervention to improve medication adherence in poorly adherent individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and hypertension (HTN)

“…Additionally, the negative consequences of not taking medication, especially for blood pressure control, was a clear motivator to remain adherent. Finally, several participants noted that at times they are adherent to BD medication and not HTN, or vice versa, which is consistent with the literature [40, 41] and suggests that texts to support adherence alone may not be sufficient to change behavior.…”

Association Between Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia and Oral Anticoagulation Use in Danish Adults With Incident or Prevalent Atrial Fibrillation

“… 41 , 42 Our results suggest a potential contribution of the latter factor, particularly for individuals with schizophrenia. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider whether the observed deficit in OAT reflects poorer treatment adherence, 19 , 20 clinically well-founded prescribing reticence (eg, due to comorbidities), or inequity in provided care. 41 In our study, the rather constant OAT deficit among patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia over time since diagnosis does not indicate poor adherence.…”

Are carer attitudes toward medications related to self-reported medication adherence amongst people with mental illness?

“…Pharmacotherapy is generally recognised as an important component in the treatment and management of schizophrenia, bipolar, and depression (Barnes and British Assoc, 2011;Cleare et al, 2015;Goodwin et al, 2016). Yet, nonadherence to medication has been reported as greater than 50% amongst mental health consumers for these disorders (Castle et al, 2012;Ibrahim et al, 2015;Levin et al, 2016;Shafrin et al, 2016). Non-adherence has been defined as clinically significant deviation from the dosage prescribed and exists on a continuum from completely adherent, through levels of partial adherence, to not taking medication at all (Aslani and du Pasquier, 2002).…”