QuestionQuestion
What are the types of non-adherence, reasons for non-adherence and side effects experienced by veterans receiving antidepressants?
Assessment
Self-reported adherence was determined using a specially designed instrument. At the 6- and 12-month follow-up surveys, the participants’ electronic medical records were searched to identify any prescriptions or refills of antidepressants in the past 6 months. The participants with an active prescription were asked if they were currently taking their prescribed medication, how frequently they took the medication in the previous month and if they took the dosage prescribed. Patients were categorised as adherent if they reported taking the full dosage ≥80% of the time. Adherence was also measured using medication possession ratios calculated from administrative pharmacy data. Reasons for non-adherence, and the most important reason, were elicited in the adherence interview using a prespecified list of possible reasons. Adherence was also discussed in open-ended semistructured…