Abstract
Purpose
Patients’ nonadherence to antidepressant treatment hampers cost and efficacy of depression-specific treatment. However, previous
studies have failed to find consistent findings in economic effect on nonadherence and also failed to reach consensus in how
to measure nonadherence to treatment. The study attempts to investigate income effect on nonadherence to selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treatment with clear definitions of nonadherence: self discontinuation of SSRIs (nonpersistence)
and under-dose of SSRIs (noncompliance).
studies have failed to find consistent findings in economic effect on nonadherence and also failed to reach consensus in how
to measure nonadherence to treatment. The study attempts to investigate income effect on nonadherence to selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treatment with clear definitions of nonadherence: self discontinuation of SSRIs (nonpersistence)
and under-dose of SSRIs (noncompliance).
Methods
The study extracted data from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). The study sample (n = 280) includes adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who were diagnosed with Diagnostic Statistics Manual IV Major Depressive
Episode (MDE) at some point during their lifetime and medicated with SSRIs in the past 12 months.
Episode (MDE) at some point during their lifetime and medicated with SSRIs in the past 12 months.
Results
Just above poverty level of family income and no health insurance increased the risk of medication nonpersistence in SSRIs
treatment. The study findings confirmed that African Americans were at higher risk of medication noncompliance than Whites
(odds ratio, 4.53) and MDE comorbidity was positively associated with medication noncompliance (odds ratio, 4.25).
treatment. The study findings confirmed that African Americans were at higher risk of medication noncompliance than Whites
(odds ratio, 4.53) and MDE comorbidity was positively associated with medication noncompliance (odds ratio, 4.25).
Conclusions
Low income level, combined with health insurance status, and race/ethnicity, predict nonadherence to antidepressant treatment.
The study findings would help physicians and hospitals developing interventional strategies and programs to increase patients’
adherence rates in antidepressant treatment.
The study findings would help physicians and hospitals developing interventional strategies and programs to increase patients’
adherence rates in antidepressant treatment.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0497-6
- Authors
- Haekyung Jeon-Slaughter, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954