skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Impact of depression and social support on nonadherence to antipsychotic drugs in persons with schizophrenia in Thailand

Original Research

(1541) Views  (716) Full article downloads

Authors: Sirijit Suttajit, Sutrak Pilakanta

Published Date September 2010 Volume 2010:4 Pages 363 - 368
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S12412

Sirijit Suttajit, Sutrak Pilakanta
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Background: Little is known about the effect of social support on nonadherence in persons with schizophrenia, especially in developing Asian countries where social support is considered to be imperative. Additionally, the role of depression as a mediator in the association between social support deficits and nonadherence has not been evaluated.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 75 participants at a university hospital in Thailand. Logistic regression was used to determine whether depression and a deficit in social support were associated with nonadherence, and whether depression mediated this association.
Results: There were strong relationships between nonadherence and major depressive episodes (odds ratio [OR] 9.5, confidence interval [CI] 2.3–38.9), living alone (OR 21.8, CI 3.5–143.0), and dissatisfaction with support from family (OR 10.0, CI 1.9–53.1). The OR of the association between social support deficits and nonadherence decreased by nearly one half after adjusting for depression.
Discussion: Depression and social support deficits were significantly associated with nonadherence in persons with schizophrenia. Depression is important in mediating the association between social support deficits and nonadherence. Enhancing social support, as well as early detection and effective intervention for depression should be emphasized in interventions to improve adherence in persons with schizophrenia.

Keywords: nonadherence, schizophrenia, depression, social support, antipsychotic drugs






Readers of this article also read:

Adherence and persistence to typical and atypical antipsychotics in the naturalistic treatment of patients with schizophrenia
Role of aliskiren in cardio-renal protection and use in hypertensives with multiple risk factors
Patient perspectives in the management of asthma: improving patient outcomes through critical selection of treatment options
The utility of an electronic adherence assessment device in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pilot study of single medication
Antipsychotic adherence, switching, and health care service utilization among Medicaid recipients with schizophrenia
Baseline characteristics and initial treatment decisions for patients with schizophrenia at risk of treatment nonadherence
Patient perspectives on antipsychotic treatments and their association with clinical outcomes
A systematic writing program as a tool in the grief process: part 1
Treatment discontinuation and clinical outcomes in the 1-year naturalistic treatment of patients with schizophrenia at risk of treatment nonadherence
The problem with health measurement