Medication Adherence in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Comprehensive Review

Experiences of nurses providing care to hospitalized patients with acute mania in Türkiye: A phenomenological study

The main purpose of this study was to determine the experiences of nurses who care for hospitalized patients experiencing an acute manic episode. This qualitative study was carried out with 15 nurses working in a psychiatric ward in Türkiye. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth individual interviews and focus-group interviews in which the face-to-face interview technique was used. Two main themes emerged from the analysis of the qualitative data: (1) the difficulties experienced and (2) the most effective elements of care. Under the first main theme, the following sub-themes emerged: difficulties in setting boundaries, safety concerns, difficulties in managing the patient's demands, inability to choose the appropriate word(s), and the "emotional whirlwind" experienced. The second main theme, on the other hand, included the following sub-themes: meeting basic needs, ensuring treatment compliance, encouragement to engage in physical activity, and having a sufficient number of qualified personnel. The study revealed that the nurses had difficulties in caring for their manic patients. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that nurses be given counseling and training on setting boundaries, ensuring safety, managing the patient's demands, coping with their own emotions, and communicating better. In addition, the study identified the importance of nursing interventions to meet patients' basic needs, encourage them to engage in physical activity, and ensure treatment compliance, and the importance of there being an adequate number of qualified personnel. These results may help students and other nurses in terms of assessing and setting priorities in cases needing acute psychiatric care.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Suboptimal Medication Adherence in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review

Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with severe and life-long consequences. Adolescents and young adults represent a particularly vulnerable subgroup because of the unique demands of their developmental stage. Despite the well-known efficacy of medication treatment for ADHD, there remains a notable concern regarding poor medication adherence in this population. Objectives: This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize the existing empirical evidence on the outcomes and consequences of medication nonadherence among adolescents and young adults with ADHD. Methods: An extensive database search was conducted on September 26, 2022, with no time limits applied. The databases included Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Each study revealed that medication nonadherence was associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including decreased academic performance, heightened familial, and psychological stress, and an increased likelihood of substance use, pregnancy, obesity, and injury. Conversely, adherence led to improvements in at least one ADHD-related outcome. Conclusions: Research exploring the consequences of suboptimal medication adherence in adolescents and young adults with ADHD is currently limited, and effective strategies to address this issue remain scarce. A thorough understanding of such consequences is critical for developing interventions aimed at improving medication adherence and mitigating the risk of adverse outcomes, especially considering the susceptibility of this population.

Utilization of Cultural Formulation Interview to understand the factors affecting treatment adherence and help-seeking in mood disorders: A qualitative study from Western India

Introduction

Treatment adherence rates among patients of affective disorders remain sub-par across the world. Sociocultural factors affecting the same remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to explore and conceptualize the same.

Methodology

The study utilized a qualitative grounded and phenomenological approach study design. The patients who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria of unipolar depression or bipolar affective disorder, and were presently under our treatment for at least three months and currently in remission, aged 18-60 years, and were able to understand Hindi or English, scored less than 6 on the Medication Adherence Rating Scale were included. Furthermore, key caregivers were also included in the study. Using purposive sampling and data saturation, a total of 30 participants were recruited. In-depth interviews were conducted using the cultural formulation interview as given in DSM-5, which was used as the interview tool. Thematic analysis of data was performed using Atlas.ti version 8.4.3.

Results

A total of 14 themes (deductive and inductive) emerging from 171 codes were identified. Some of the important inductive themes included cultural and societal attitude toward illness and treatment-seeking, trust, experience, and expectations from available health care, faith healing-related practices and beliefs. The implicit themes such as cultural understanding of the problem and cultural factors affecting help-seeking, also showed prudent findings.

Conclusion

The study findings demonstrate the various features of the sociocultural milieu and identity of an individual and family that have an influence on treatment-seeking behavior.

Effect of long-acting injectable antipsychotics on 1-year hospitalization in bipolar disorder: a mirror-image study

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are often used for the long-term management also of bipolar disorder (BD). Nonetheless, evidence on their effect on pragmatic outcomes such as hospitalization risk in BD is inconsistent. We carried out a mirror-image study comparing rates and number of days of hospitalization, one year before and after the initiation of LAI treatment, in a sample of subjects with BD. Participants were selected from the STAR Network Depot Study, a pragmatic, observational, multicenter research involving a cohort of inpatients and outpatients consecutively started on LAI treatment. Variations in rates and in total number of days of hospitalization between the 12 months before and those after treatment initiation were analyzed. Among 461 individuals screened for eligibility, we included 71 adults with BD, initiated either on first- (FGA) or second-generation (SGA) LAIs. We found a significant decrease in terms of 12-month hospitalization rates (p < 0.001) and number of days (p < 0.001) after LAI initiation, without any effect by age, gender, alcohol/substance use disorders, and symptom severity. Subgroup analyses based on antipsychotic class, history of LAI treatment, and concomitant oral medications, confirmed the decreasing trend on both hospitalization rates and number of days. However, these reductions were not significant among participants who continued this treatment for less than 6 months. Comprehensively, this study supports the role of LAIs as effective maintenance treatment options for BD. Further research is needed to identify clinical characteristics of people with BD who would most benefit from long-acting formulations of antipsychotics.

Non-adherence to mood stabilizers and antipsychotics among persons with bipolar disorder - A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Non-adherence to medications is common in bipolar disorder but its prevalence estimations have varied significantly. In addition, non-adherence is known to increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, we studied how common primary non-adherence for mood stabilizers and antipsychotics is in Finland and which factors are associated with it.

METHODS

Nationwide sample of persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder during 1987-2018 were identified from registers. Dispensings of their electronic prescriptions during 2015-2018 were followed up to define rates of primary non-adherence. Primary non-adherence was defined as having at least one non-dispensed mood stabilizer or antipsychotic prescription during 2015-2018. In a broader definition, non-adherence was defined as having ≥20 % of mood stabilizer and/or antipsychotic prescriptions non-dispensed. Adjusted logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for non-adherence.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 33,131 persons and 59.1 % had at least one non-dispensed mood stabilizer or antipsychotic prescription. 31.0 % of the cohort was non-adherent to ≥20 % of their mood stabilizer and/or antipsychotic prescriptions. Lithium and clozapine had the lowest proportions of non-dispensed prescriptions. Especially young age, recent bipolar disorder diagnosis, multiple hospitalizations due to bipolar disorder, and use of benzodiazepines or antidepressants were associated with an increased risk of non-adherence.

LIMITATIONS

This study was based on register data, and patient-reported reasons for medication non-adherence could not be included.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with bipolar disorder do not use their medications as prescribed. Patient-specific risk for non-adherence should be assessed and those at high risk for non-adherence should be followed closely.

Updated strategies for the management of poor medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder

INTRODUCTION

Suboptimal adherence is a well-established, pervasive problem in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) causing disability, suffering, and cost.

AREAS COVERED

This review covers new research since January 2016 regarding internal (patient-centered) and external (system level) barriers and facilitators to adherence. Measures of adherence, the efficacy of psychosocial adherence enhancement interventions in individuals with BD, and, finally, novel delivery systems for BD medication are also covered. Measures of adherence continue to fall broadly into objective measures (i.e. drug levels) and more subjective, self-report measures and a combination of these likely provides the most comprehensive picture. Efficacious components of psychosocial adherence enhancement interventions include psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral strategies, yet methods for delivery vary. Long-acting injectable (LAI) medications for BD are the drug delivery system with the most promise for BD. Combining psychosocial components with novel drug delivery systems has the potential for establishing and maintaining medication adherence.

EXPERT OPINION

Psychosocial interventions improve adherence in individuals with BD. Psychoeducation is a necessary but not sufficient component in psychosocial interventions. LAIs should be considered earlier for adherence improvement than many treatment guidelines currently suggest. Comparative studies are lacking as is research into novel systems of medication delivery.

Direct and Indirect Predictors of Medication Adherence With Bipolar Disorder: Path Analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite the efficacy of treatment and severity of symptoms, medication adherence by many with bipolar disorder (BD) is variable at best. This poses a significant challenge for BD care management.

OBJECTIVE

For this study, we set out to identify psychosocial and psychiatric predictors of medication adherence with BD.

METHODS

Using microtargeted social media advertising, we recruited an international sample of young and older adults with BD living in North America (Canada and the United States), Western Europe (eg, United Kingdom and Ireland), Australia and New Zealand (N=92). On average, participants were 55.35 (SD 9.65; range 22-73) years of age, had been diagnosed with BD 14.25 (SD 11.14; range 1-46) years ago, and were currently prescribed 2.40 (SD 1.28; range 0-6) psychotropic medications. Participants completed questionnaires online including the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.

RESULTS

Medication adherence did not significantly differ across BD subtypes, country of residence, or prescription of lithium versus other mood stabilizers (eg, anticonvulsants). Path analyses indicate that alcohol misuse and subjective or perceived cognitive failures are direct predictors of medication adherence. BD symptoms, psychological well-being, and the number of comorbid psychiatric conditions emerged as indirect predictors of medication adherence via perceived cognitive failures.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol misuse did not predict perceived cognitive failures. Nor did age predict medication adherence or cognitive failures. This is noteworthy given the 51-year age range of participants. That is, persons in their 20s with BD reported similar levels of medication adherence and perceived cognitive failures as those in their 60s. This suggests that perceived cognitive loss is a facet of adult life with BD, in contrast to the assumption that accelerated cognitive aging with BD begins in midlife.

Measurement, determinants, barriers, and interventions for exercise adherence: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Adherence to exercise interventions is the cornerstone of a successful rehabilitation program. However, there is limited evidence on multifaceted components of exercise adherence. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the existing literature on measurement, determinants, barriers, theoretical frameworks, and evidence-based interventions that support exercise adherence.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review based on the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews guidelines and searched the literature in PubMed, Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened articles. The included articles were subjected to data extraction and qualitative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 72 articles were included for this review. Data synthesis showed that there are no gold standard methods of measuring exercise adherence; however, questionnaires and daily logs are commonly used tools. The determinants of adherence are personal, disease-related, therapy-related, provider-related, and health system-related. The common barriers to adherence are the absence of a caregiver, low health literacy, poor communication by healthcare providers, cost, and lack of access to health facilities. Few evidence-based interventions used for supporting adherence are behavioral strategies, improving self-efficacy, motivational therapy, and mHealth or multimedia.

CONCLUSION

Non-adherence to exercises is a challenge for healthcare providers. There are no standard guidelines for the evaluation and management of non-adherence to exercises. Future studies should aim at developing objective measures of exercise adherence and investigate the long-term effects of adherence strategies in different disease populations. It is an under-researched area and requires multipronged strategies to improve adherence levels among patients.

A retrospective study of psychotropic drug treatments in bipolar disorder at acute and maintenance episodes

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is predominantly treated with psychotropic drugs, but BD is a complex medical condition and the contribution of psychotropic drugs is not clear. The objectives of this study are: (1) to present psychotropic drugs used in patients with BD; (2) to access changes of psychotropic drug treatments in acute and maintenance episodes.

METHODS

The study retrospectively evaluated the medical records of inpatients in the Ningbo Kangning Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The medical history of each subject was collected completely, including sociodemographic (gender, age, marital status, and so on) and clinical characteristics at baseline and within 12 months of admission.

RESULTS

The study ultimately included 204 patients with BD. After 12 months, 73.0% of the patients still took drugs. Mood stabilizers (72-90%) and antipsychotics (77-95%) were still the most important drugs in patients with BD. Antidepressants (34-40%) and benzodiazepines (20-34%) were the other frequently used drug classes. For mood stabilizers, 40-56% of patients were prescribed lithium. For antipsychotic, 54-65% of patients were prescribed quetiapine. Sertraline (6-9%) and fluoxetine (5-9%) were the antidepressant that most frequently prescribed. Lorazepam (10-18%) was the most commonly used benzodiazepine. In psychotropic polypharmacy, the most frequently taken was mood stabilizer plus antipsychotic co-treatment, about 36-44% of all patients. A total of 35-48% of patients treated by two psychotropic drugs and 24-36% received three.

CONCLUSION

The first 6 months after treatment is very important to medication adherence. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic remained the primary treatment for BD. Antipsychotic is on the rise in the treatment of BD.

Cyclothymic Temperament, Physical Neglect, and Earlier Age of Onset Predict Poor Medication Adherence in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

ABSTRACT

Individual-level risk factors may predict poor medication adherence (PMA) in bipolar disorder (BD). This study aimed to evaluate the association between affective temperament, childhood trauma, age of first onset, and PMA in patients with BD in China. A total of 168 patients completed the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale; the Short Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire; and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Scores were then compared between PMA and non-PMA groups. Binary logistic regression showed that age of first onset was negatively correlated with PMA ( β = -0.106, p = 0.002), whereas physical neglect and cyclothymic temperament were positively correlated with PMA ( β = 0.143, p = 0.029; β = 0.19, p = 0.001, respectively). These findings indicate that cyclothymic temperament, physical neglect, and earlier onset are predictors of PMA in patients with BD and that such patients may require further attention to improve medical compliance.

A randomized controlled trial of customized adherence enhancement (CAE-E): study protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation project

BACKGROUND

Mood-stabilizing medications are a cornerstone of treatment for people with bipolar disorder, though approximately half of these individuals are poorly adherent with their medication, leading to negative and even severe health consequences. While a variety of approaches can lead to some improvement in medication adherence, there is no single approach that has superior adherence enhancement and limited data on how these approaches can be implemented in clinical settings. Existing data have shown an increasing need for virtual delivery of care and interactive telemedicine interventions may be effective in improving adherence to long-term medication.

METHODS

Customized adherence enhancement (CAE) is a brief, practical bipolar-specific approach that identifies and targets individual patient adherence barriers for intervention using a flexibly administered modular format that can be delivered via telehealth communications. CAE is comprised of up to four standard treatment modules including Psychoeducation, Communication with Providers, Medication Routines, and Modified Motivational Interviewing. Participants will attend assigned module sessions with an interventionist based on their reasons for non-adherence and will be assessed for adherence, functioning, bipolar symptoms, and health resource use across a 12-month period. Qualitative and quantitative data will also be collected to assess barriers and facilitators to CAE implementation and reach and adoption of CAE among clinicians in the community.

DISCUSSION

The proposed study addresses the need for practical adherence interventions that are effective, flexible, and designed to adapt to different settings and patients. By focusing on a high-risk, vulnerable group of people with bipolar disorder, and refining an evidence-based approach that will integrate into workflow of public-sector care and community mental health clinics, there is substantial potential for improving bipolar medication adherence and overall health outcomes on a broad level.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04622150 on November 9, 2020.

Using mHealth to improve adherence and reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension and bipolar disorder (iTAB-CV): study protocol for a 2-stage randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease in individuals with mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder is highly prevalent and often poorly managed. Individuals with bipolar disorder face significant medication adherence barriers, especially when they are prescribed multiple medications for other health conditions including hypertension. Poor adherence puts them at a disproportionate risk for poor health outcomes. As such, there is a need for effective interventions to improve hypertension medication adherence, particularly in patients that struggle with adherence due to mental health comorbidity.

METHODS

This 5-year project uses a 2-stage randomized controlled trial design to evaluate a brief, practical adherence intervention delivered via interactive text messaging (iTAB-CV) along with self-monitoring of medication taking, mood, and home blood pressure (N = 100) compared to self-monitoring alone (N = 100). Prior to randomization, all participants will view an educational video that emphasizes the importance of medication for the treatment of hypertension and bipolar disorder. Those randomized to the texting intervention will receive daily text messages with predetermined content to address 11 salient domains as well as targeted customized messages for 2 months. This group will then be re-randomized to receive either a high (gradual taper from daily to weekly texts) or low booster (weekly texts) phase for an additional 2 months. All participants will be monitored for 52 weeks. The primary outcomes are systolic blood pressure and adherence to antihypertensive medication as determined by a self-reported questionnaire and validated with an automated pill-monitoring device. Secondary outcomes include adherence to bipolar disorder medications, psychiatric symptoms, health status, self-efficacy for medication-taking behavior, illness beliefs, medication attitudes, and habit strength.

DISCUSSION

This study specifically targets blood pressure and mental health symptom control in people with bipolar and includes implementation elements in the study design intended to inform future scale-up. Promising pilot data and a theoretical model, which views sustained medication-taking behavior in the context of habit formation, suggests that this remotely delivered intervention may help advance care for this high-risk population and is amenable to both scale up and easy adaptation for other groups with poor medication adherence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04675593 ) on December 19, 2020.

Real-world Implementation of a Smartphone-Based Psychoeducation Program for Bipolar Disorder: Observational Ecological Study

BACKGROUND

SIMPLe is an internet-delivered self-management mobile app for bipolar disorder (BD) designed to combine technology with evidence-based interventions and facilitate access to psychoeducational content. The SIMPLe app was launched to the real world to make it available worldwide within the context of BD treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The main aims of this study are as follows: to describe app use, engagement, and retention rates based on server data; to identify patterns of user retention over the first 6-month follow-up of use; and to explore potential factors contributing to discontinuation of app use.

METHODS

This was an observational ecological study in which we pooled available data from a real-world implementation of the SIMPLe app. Participation was open on the project website, and the data-collection sources were a web-based questionnaire on clinical data and treatment history administered at inclusion and at 6 months, subjective data gathered through continuous app use, and the use patterns captured by the app server. Characteristics and engagement of regular users, occasional users, and no users were compared using 2-tailed t tests or analysis of variance or their nonparametric equivalent. Survival analysis and risk functions were applied to regular users' data to examine and compare use and user retention. In addition, a user evaluation analysis was performed based on satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and reasons to discontinue app use.

RESULTS

We included 503 participants with data collected between 2016 and 2018, of whom 77.5% (n=390) used the app. Among the app users, 44.4% (173/390) completed the follow-up assessment, and data from these participants were used in our analyses. Engagement declined gradually over the first 6 months of use. The probability of retention of the regular users after 1 month of app use was 67.4% (263/390; 95% CI 62.7%-72.4%). Age (P=.002), time passed since illness onset (P<.001), and years since diagnosis of BD (P=.048) correlate with retention duration. In addition, participants who had been diagnosed with BD for longer used the app on more days (mean 97.73, SD 69.15 days; P=.002) than those who had had a more recent onset (mean 66.49, SD 66.18 days; P=.002) or those who had been diagnosed more recently (mean 73.45, SD 66 days; P=.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The user retention rate of the app decreased rapidly after each month until reaching only one-third of the users at 6 months. There exists a strong association between age and app engagement of individuals with BD. Other variables such as years lived with BD, diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, and taking antipsychotics seem relevant as well. Understanding these associations can help in the definition of the most suitable user profiles for predicting trends of engagement, optimization of app prescription, and management.

Mental health conditions and adherence to direct oral anticoagulants in patients with incident atrial fibrillation: A nationwide cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Medication adherence is essential for effective stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to assess whether adherence to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in AF patients is affected by the presence of mental health conditions (MHCs).

METHODS

The nationwide FinACAF cohort covered 74,222 AF patients from all levels of care receiving DOACs during 2011-2018 in Finland. Medication possession ratio (MPR) was used to quantify adherence. Patients with MPR ≥0.90 were defined adherent. MHCs of interest were depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia.

RESULTS

The patients' (mean age 75.4 ± 9.5 years, 50.8% female) mean MPR was 0.84 (SD 0.22), and 59.5% had MPR ≥0.90. Compared to patients without MHC, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for adherent DOAC use emerged slightly lower in patients with depression (0.92 (0.84-0.99)) and bipolar disorder (0.77 (0.61-0.97)) and unsignificant in patients with anxiety disorder (1.08 (0.96-1.21)) and schizophrenia (1.13 (0.90-1.43)). However, when only persistent DOAC therapy was analyzed, no MHC was associated with poor adherence, and instead anxiety disorder was associated with adherent DOAC use (1.18 (1.04-1.34)).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to DOACs in AF patients in Finland was relatively high, and no meaningful differences between patients with and without MHCs were observed.

Telemedicine as a Tool to Improve Medicine Adherence in Patients with Affective Disorders - A Systematic Literature Review

Affective disorders are a common psychological impairment. A major problem with respect to treatment is medication non-adherence. eHealth interventions are already widely used in the treatment of patients living with affective disorders. The aim of this systematic literature review is to obtain the current scientific evidence to eHealth as a tool to improve medication adherence in patients with affective disorders. A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycInfo. Studies in English and German published between 2007 and 2020 were included. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and were performed with the CADIMA online tool. A total of 17 articles were included in this review. Eleven studies were randomized controlled trials, two were controlled clinical trials, and four had a pre-/post-design. Three different types of interventions could be identified: internet-based self-management programs (n=4), multi-faceted interventions addressing different dimensions of medication adherence (n=4), and single-faceted interventions (n=9) comprising four mobile interventions and five telehealth interventions. Eleven interventions addressed patients with (comorbid) depressions and six addressed patients with bipolar disorders. Six interventions showed a statistically significant positive effect on medication adherence. None of the studies showed a statistically significant negative effect. All interventions which had a statistically significant positive effect on medication adherence involved personal contacts between therapists and patients. All included eHealth interventions are at least as effective as control conditions and seems to be effective for patients with depression as well as with bipolar disorders. Personal contacts seem to improve the effectiveness of eHealth interventions. eHealth interventions are an effective way to improve medication adherence in patients with affective disorders. In rural or underserved regions, eHealth can supplement usual care interventions on medication adherence by expanding access. More analyses are needed in order to understand determinants for the effectiveness of eHealth interventions on medication adherence enhancement.

Self-Reported Low Lithium Adherence Among Chinese Patients with Bipolar Disorder in Shenzhen: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Lithium has been widely used to treat bipolar disorder (BD), although its adherence is rarely reported in China. This study aimed to explore the rate of lithium adherence and its associated factors in patients with BD, which has rarely been reported in China.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among patients in Shenzhen Mental Health Center (Shenzhen Kangning Hospital), who were aged 12 years or above, were diagnosed with BD based on the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10), and had been on lithium for at least 1 month. We collected information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and on knowledge about and attitudes toward lithium. We also investigated patients' concerns while taking lithium and where they can and wish to obtain information on lithium.

RESULTS

Of the 244 enrolled patients and 221 patients aged 18 years or older, 52% and 50% disclosed low adherence to lithium, respectively. Factors associated with poor lithium adherence were a younger age (odds ratio (OR): 0.962, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.933-0.992), female sex (OR: 2.171, 95% CI: 1.146-4.112), and no hospitalization history (OR: 0.389, 95% CI: 0.217-0.689) for the full sample, and more years of education (OR: 4.086, 95% CI: 1.397-11.946) and fewer hospitalizations (OR: 0.615, 95% CI: 0.467-0.809) for patients aged 18 years or older. Less knowledge of periodic tests conducted during lithium treatment played a critical role in low lithium adherence (regression analysis of the full sample: OR: 0.642, 95% CI: 0.532-0.775, regression analysis of subgroups: OR: 0.609, 95% CI: 0.500-0.742). The treatment duration was a major concern among patients on lithium, and patients preferred obtaining lithium-associated information through health services and WeChat.

CONCLUSION

The rate of lithium adherence was low in this study. Psychoeducation to increase lithium compliance should mainly focus on patients who are young and provide thorough background information on lithium. Health services should actively provide lithium-associated information. A greater need for medication information based on WeChat was observed, implying its potential role in adherence-related psychoeducation.

Accuracy of self-reported adherence and therapeutic drug monitoring in a psychiatric emergency ward

The aims of the study were: (1) the evaluation of the agreement between therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and a self-assessment of adherence to psychopharmacological treatments; (2) the identification of predictors of TDM results.Adherence in patients admitted into a psychiatric emergency service (PES) for a relapse of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) or a bipolar disorder (BD; DSM-5) was assessed both directly with TDM and indirectly with a self-reported measure (Medication Adherence Report Scale -MARS- 10 items). The agreement between TDM and MARS was evaluated. Fifty-seven patients with SSD and 76 people with BD participated in the study. TDM was in range in about 50% of the global sample. No evidence of an association between MARS total scores and TDM results was found. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of almost all MARS total scores were near to 50%. Smoking was strongly associated with a reduction of TDM results within the reference range. In the BD group, female sex was a predictor of TDM in range. In this clinical setting, self-assessment of adherence is neither reliable nor predictive. Furthermore, smoking is a strong predictor of poor adherence to psychopharmacological therapy.

Psychiatry in the Digital Age: A Blessing or a Curse?

Social distancing and the shortage of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of population aging on the healthcare system, as well as the rapid pace of digital innovation are catalyzing the development and implementation of new technologies and digital services in psychiatry. Is this transformation a blessing or a curse for psychiatry? To answer this question, we conducted a literature review covering a broad range of new technologies and eHealth services, including telepsychiatry; computer-, internet-, and app-based cognitive behavioral therapy; virtual reality; digital applied games; a digital medicine system; omics; neuroimaging; machine learning; precision psychiatry; clinical decision support; electronic health records; physician charting; digital language translators; and online mental health resources for patients. We found that eHealth services provide effective, scalable, and cost-efficient options for the treatment of people with limited or no access to mental health care. This review highlights innovative technologies spearheading the way to more effective and safer treatments. We identified artificially intelligent tools that relieve physicians from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on collaborative doctor-patient relationships. The transformation of traditional clinics into digital ones is outlined, and the challenges associated with the successful deployment of digitalization in psychiatry are highlighted.

Simple Mobile technology health management tool for people with severe mental illness: a randomised controlled feasibility trial

BACKGROUND

Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with care delivery problems because of the high levels of clinical resources needed to address patient's psychosocial impairment and to support inclusion in society. Current routine appointment systems do not adequately foster recovery care and are not systematically capturing information suggestive of urgent care needs. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical benefits of a mobile technology health management tool to enhance community care for people with severe mental illness.

METHODS

This randomised-controlled feasibility pilot study utilised mixed quantitative (measure on subjective quality of life as primary outcome; questionnaires on self-management skills, medication adherence scale as secondary outcomes) and qualitative (thematic analysis) methodologies. The intervention was a simple interactive technology (Short Message Service - SMS) communication system called 'Florence', and had three components: medication and appointment reminders, daily individually defined wellbeing scores and optionally coded request for additional support. Eligible participants (diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder ≥1 year) were randomised (1:1) to either treatment as usual (TAU, N = 29) or TAU and the technology-assisted intervention (N = 36).

RESULTS

Preliminary results suggest that the health technology tool appeared to offer a practicable and acceptable intervention for patients with SMI in managing their condition. Recruitment and retention data indicated feasibility, the qualitative analysis identified suggestions for further improvement of the intervention. Patients engaged well and benefited from SMS reminders and from monitoring their individual wellbeing scores; recommendations were made to further personalise the intervention. The care coordinators did not utilise aspects of the intervention per protocol due to a variety of organisational barriers. Quantitative analysis of outcomes (including a patient-reported outcome measure on subjective quality of life, self-efficacy/competence and medication adherence measures) did not identify significant changes between groups over time in favour of the Florence intervention, given high baseline scores. The wellbeing scores, however, were positively correlated with all outcome measures.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to conduct an adequately powered full trial to evaluate this intervention. Inclusion criteria should be revised to include patients with a higher level of need and clinicians should receive more in-depth assistance in managing the tools effectively. The preliminary data suggests that this intervention can aid recovery care and individually defined wellbeing scores are highly predictive of a range of recovery outcomes; they could, therefore, guide the allocation of routine care resources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN34124141 ; retrospectively registered, date of registration 05/11/2019.

Medication adherence in bipolar disorder: Exploring the role of predominant polarity

OBJECTIVES

Medication non-adherence is one important reason behind sub-optimal outcome from treatment of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Though various reasons behind medication non-adherence have been identified, little is known about the medication adherence patterns across various predominant polarities (PP) in BPAD.

METHODS

100 euthymic patients of BPAD were purposively recruited and the PP were determined. Subsequently, Morisky Medication adherence scale (MMAS); Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF); Oslo Social Support Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale- Brief version (WHOQOL-Bref) were administered. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was done to estimate the difference of scores of MMAS after adjusting for any potential confounders.

RESULTS

Overall, 44 patients with manic PP (MPP), 17 with depressive PP (DPP) and 39 with indeterminate PP (IPP) were recruited. It was found that patients who presented with DPP showed significantly higher medication adherence as compared to MPP.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of PP of a patient of BPAD can be useful in anticipating medication adherence and treatment outcome. The major limitations included non-probability sampling, cross-sectional design and limited generalizability of the results.

Patients' adherence to smartphone apps in the management of bipolar disorder: a systematic review

Background

Despite an increasing number of available mental health apps in the bipolar disorder field, these tools remain scarcely implemented in everyday practice and are quickly discontinued by patients after downloading. The aim of this study is to explore adherence characteristics of bipolar disorder patients to dedicated smartphone interventions in research studies.

Methods

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Three databases (EMBASE, PsychInfo and MEDLINE) were searched using the following keywords: "bipolar disorder" or "mood disorder" or “bipolar” combined with “digital” or “mobile” or “phone” or “smartphone” or “mHealth” or “ehealth” or "mobile health" or “app” or “mobile-health”.

Results

Thirteen articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Of the 118 eligible studies, 39 did not provide adherence characteristics. Among the selected papers, study length, sample size and definition of measures of adherence were strongly heterogeneous. Activity rates ranged from 58 to 91.6%.

Conclusion

The adherence of bipolar patients to apps is understudied. Standardised measures of adherence should be defined and systematically evaluated in future studies dedicated to these tools.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40345-021-00224-6.

Aripiprazole IM depot as an option for the treatment of bipolar disorder

Introduction: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic drugs are developed to reduce daily intake need and to overcome treatment non-adherence. Aripiprazole IM depot refers to two long-acting aripiprazole formulations, once monthly monohydrate (AOM) and aripiprazole lauroxil. AOM has been approved for schizophrenia since 2012 and for bipolar disorder since 2017. Aripiprazole lauroxil is approved for schizophrenia, not for bipolar disorder.Areas covered: To assess the effect of AOM in bipolar disorder, the authors searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized trials using AOM in patients with bipolar disorder. Included were four studies covering efficacy, functioning, quality of life, and safety/tolerability. Studies lasted 12 months.Expert opinion: AOM reduced symptoms of patients with bipolar disorder and a manic episode, increased functioning and quality of life, and protected from recurrence of manic episodes. It proved to be safe/tolerable, with only akathisia occurring in ≥10% of cases and more frequently than with placebo. However, there were only 143 patients receiving AOM in the considered studies. Included studies were backed in their conclusions by other literature, but they come from 2017-2018. No studies are expected or planned in the near future. Aripiprazole lauroxil has not applied for approval in bipolar disorder and there is no sign it will.

The Influence of Body Image, Insight, and Mental Health Confidence on Medication Adherence in Young Adult Women with Mental Disorders

The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the impact of body image, insight, and mental health confidence on medication adherence among young adult women with mental disorders. Data collection occurred from August to September 2018. The study participants were 147 young adult women aged 19 to 45 with mental disorders who were psychiatry outpatients either getting treatment in general hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province or receiving rehabilitation therapy through local mental health welfare centers in Korea, and agreed to participate in the study. The measurement tools used were the Body Image Scale; the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder, Korean short-form version; the Korean version of the Mental Health Confidence Scale; and the Korean version of the Medication Compliance Scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS/WIN 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Medication adherence among the study participants differed by age (F = 2.95, p = 0.042), religion (t = −2.06, p = 0.042), level of trust in psychiatrists (F = 5.40, p = 0.006), treatment duration (F = 4.48, p = 0.005), and noncompliance to medication regimens due to weight gain (t = −2.61, p = 0.010). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that body image (β = −0.32, p < 0.001), insight (β = −0.24, p = 0.002), and mental health confidence (β = 0.24, p = 0.004) had a significant impact on the medication adherence of the participants. Body image, in particular, had the greatest influence on the medication adherence of the participants. This study found that body image, insight, and mental health confidence were important in improving medication adherence among young adult women with mental disorders. Practical, patient-centered, and individualized approaches that can improve medication adherence by seeking to understand negative perceptions regarding body image should be considered.

Trajectories of medication adherence in patients with Bipolar Disorder along 2 years-follow-up

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and severe mental illness. It requires a non-discontinued pharmacological treatment to prevent mood recurrences but nonadherence to medication is frequent. To this date, medication adherence in BD has been mostly evaluated in cross-sectional studies and often considered as a stable trait. We aimed to study medication adherence using a prospective person-oriented approach.

METHODS

1627 BD patients were followed on a 2 years period and assessed every 6 months. Medication adherence was evaluated at each visit with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). A latent class mixed model (LCMM) was used to identify trajectory classes of adherence over time. Regression analyses and linear mixed model were used to search for predictors and covariables of the trajectories.

RESULTS

Three distinct and robust trajectories of medication adherence have been identified: one that starts poorly and keeps deteriorating (4.8%), one that starts poorly but improves (9%) and one that starts well and keeps improving (86.2%). A good tolerance to psychotropic medications, low depressive symptoms, the absence of comorbid eating disorders and anticonvulsant medication were associated to a better prognosis of adherence. Along the follow-up, the lower were the depressive symptoms, the better was the medication adherence (p < .001) LIMITATIONS: The use of a single measure of medication adherence although it is a validated instrument and a possible positive selection bias that might limit the generalization of our findings.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that medication adherence in BD patients is a heterogeneous and potentially variable phenomenon.

Medication Adherence in Pediatric Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Pediatric bipolar disorder is a severe disabling condition affecting 1%-3% of youth worldwide. Both acute and maintenance treatment with medications are mainstays of treatment. It is well established in adult literature that adherence to medications improves outcomes and many adult studies have examined factors impacting adherence. This systematic review set out to identify the current state of research examining adherence to medications and characteristics influencing adherence in pediatric bipolar disorder. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review in the Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Wiley Clinical Trials, and Cochrane databases. New research regarding characteristics and measurement of adherence to psychotropic medication for bipolar disorder (I, II, or not otherwise specified) in patients ≤18 years old were included for review. Exclusion criteria included no bipolar diagnosis, inclusion of patients >18 years old, no pharmacologic treatment, and lack of adherence measurements. Results: Initial search generated 439 articles after duplicate removal. One hundred thirty-three full-text articles were reviewed, 16 underwent additional review and 6 were selected for final inclusion. The majority of articles were excluded for patients >18 years old. Included articles were extremely heterogeneous for multiple measures, including methodology, determination of adherence, adherence rates, and characteristics influencing adherence. Of medications evaluated, 6/6 studies included mood stabilizers, 4/6 antidepressants, 3/6 antipsychotics, and 2/6 psychostimulants. Three out of six articles included patients <12 years old. Some significant factors affecting adherence included polypharmacy, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, socioeconomic status, sex, family history and functioning, side effects, race, stability of bipolar diagnosis, and number of follow-up visits attended. Conclusions: Pediatric-specific information on medication adherence in bipolar disorder is very limited. Information on patient characteristics that may influence adherence rates is critical to target interventions to improve adherence. No articles reported on interventions to improve adherence. Given the different psychosocial situations of pediatric patients versus adults, it is likely that targets for improving adherence differ in pediatric patients.

Can Smartphone Apps Assist People with Serious Mental Illness in Taking Medications as Prescribed?

Adherence research commonly happens in a silo, focused on a particular disease state or type of therapy. Learning from outside disciplines can bring new insights and ideas. This article presents adherence research as related to people with a diagnosis of a serious mental illness (SMI) and medication adherence through smartphone applications (apps). Individuals with SMI have high rates of not taking medication, increasing risks of relapse and hospitalization. Advances in technology may be advantageous in promoting taking medication. Smartphones apps have been designed for people with SMI. Further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy on improving rates of taking medication.

Association between Adherence with an Atypical Antipsychotic and with Other Psychiatric Drugs in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

BACKGROUND

Using U.S. pharmacy and medical claims, medication adherence patterns of patients with serious mental illness suggest that adherence to atypical antipsychotics may be related to adherence to other prescription drugs. This study investigated whether adherence to an atypical antipsychotic was related to adherence to other prescribed psychiatric drugs using self-reported data from patients with bipolar disorder.

METHODS

Daily self-reported medication data were available from 123 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder receiving treatment as usual who took at least 1 atypical antipsychotic over a 12-week period. Patients took a mean of 4.0±1.7 psychiatric drugs including the antipsychotic. The adherence rate for the atypical antipsychotic was compared to that for other psychiatric drugs to determine if the adherence rate for the atypical antipsychotic differed from that of the other psychiatric drug by at least ±10%.

RESULTS

Of the 123 patients, 58 (47.2%) had an adherence rate for the atypical antipsychotic that differed from the adherence rate for at least 1 other psychiatric drug by at least±10%, and 65 (52.8%) patients had no difference in adherence rates. The patients with a difference took a larger total number of psychiatric drugs (p<0.001), had a larger daily pill burden (p=0.020) and a lower adherence rate with the atypical antipsychotic (p=0.007), and were more likely to take an antianxiety drug (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Adherence with an atypical antipsychotic was not useful for estimating adherence to other psychiatric drugs in about half of the patients with bipolar disorder.

Age-Related Differences in Medication Adherence, Symptoms, and Stigma in Poorly Adherent Adults With Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE

We present a secondary analysis of data reporting differences in medication adherence, psychiatric symptom severity, and internalized stigma levels in older (age ≥ 55 years) versus younger (age < 55 years) adults with bipolar disorder (BD) and poor medication adherence.

METHODS

Data used for this analysis came from 184 participants in a National Institute of Mental Health-funded randomized controlled trial, comparing a customized adherence enhancement (CAE) intervention intended to promote BD medication adherence with a BD-specific educational program (EDU). At screen, study participants were ≥20% nonadherent with BD medications as measured by the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ). Psychiatric symptoms, functional status, and internalized stigma were measured using validated scales.

RESULTS

Older adults had significantly lower anxiety disorder comorbidity (P < .01 for 1 or more anxiety disorders), depressive symptom severity scores (P = .011), and self-stigma scores (P = .001) compared to their younger counterparts. In the analyses evaluating change over time in TRQ between older and younger participants by treatment arm (ie, CAE and EDU), there was a significant finding of interaction between time, age-group, and treatment arm (P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults may be less anxious and depressed, with less self-stigma, compared to younger people with BD and poor adherence. With respect to medication adherence, older individuals in EDU appear to do less well than younger individuals over time.

Promoting Medication Adherence Among Psychiatric Patients With a History of Nonadherence: A Clinical Practice Improvement Program

BACKGROUND

People with serious mental illness may require long-term psychotropic medications. However, nonadherence is prevalent after discharge, often leading to re-admission. Several strategies exist to reduce nonadherence. The current project uses clinical practice improvement methodologies to test and adjust strategies to improve medication adherence at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore.

METHODS

Two focus groups (one of which involved nonadherent individuals and the other adherent individuals) were conducted to explore the root cause of our service users' nonadherence. On the basis of the causes identified, the team developed and implemented a person-centered medication adherence counseling intervention, incorporating motivational interviewing and psychoeducation. Data from all service users (n=156) who were nonadherent to psychotropic medications upon admission to our men's ward between October 2017 and December 2018 were examined, with 63 of the men serving as the baseline sample and 93 receiving the adherence intervention. The team also reduced medication frequency and actively explored patients' willingness to switch to long-acting injectable antipsychotics. A validated visual analogue self-reporting scale was used to measure adherence at screening and 30 days after discharge. Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess the effects.

RESULTS

After an intervention involving 3 specific strategies that addressed the concerns identified during the focus groups, the percentage of people who adhered to their treatment regimen 30 days after discharge increased by 33% (95% confidence interval: 15%-51%, P=0.001). Our balance measure (a secondary outcome that may be negatively or positively affected by efforts to influence the primary outcome), which was the percentage of people readmitted within 30 days of their discharge, showed a significant improvement (ie, a decrease in percentage readmitted).

CONCLUSIONS

Quality improvement methodologies can be used to solve common problems with context-specific solutions. The implementation of person-centered medication adherence counseling led by an advanced practice nurse in concert with optimization of medication regimens appears to be a promising strategy for improving adherence in nonadherent patients admitted to the psychiatric ward.

Treatment Attitudes and Adherence Among Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review of Quantitative and Qualitative Studies

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews about treatment attitudes of patients influencing adherence in bipolar disorder (BD) are rare.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and principles of thematic synthesis. Selectively identified quantitative and qualitative studies were used to examine the attitude-adherence relationship in BD, the types and correlates of treatment attitudes, and the impact of psychosocial interventions on attitudes.

RESULTS

The final list of 163 articles included 114 observational reports (incorporating 21 psychosocial intervention trials), 45 qualitative/descriptive studies, and 4 patient surveys. A positive association between treatment attitudes and adherence was found in most quantitative and qualitative studies, though the strength of the relationship was unclear. Thematic analysis of qualitative studies suggested that patient attitudes influencing adherence were based on perceived advantages and disadvantages of treatment. The principal correlates of patients' attitudes were family attitudes, the clinician-patient alliance, social support, and patients' knowledge of BD. Though negative attitudes such as denial, concerns about adverse treatment consequences, and stigmatizing effects of treatment were common, many patients believed treatment to be beneficial and necessary. The limited data on the effect of psychosocial interventions indicated that treatments selectively targeting attitudes enhanced adherence.

LIMITATIONS

The studies were heterogeneous in design; the quality was uneven (fair to poor); and the risk of bias moderate to high.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite these flaws, awareness of the existing evidence on the attitude-adherence association and other aspects of treatment attitudes in BD can help in efforts to address nonadherence in BD.

Differential Medication Attitudes to Antihypertensive and Mood Stabilizing Agents in response to an Automated Text-Messaging Adherence Enhancement Intervention

OBJECTIVES

Individuals with serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder (BD) are at an increased risk for poor medication adherence compared to the general population. Individuals with BD also have high rates of chronic comorbid medical conditions like hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Cognitive-behavioral therapies often integrate strategies to improve medication adherence by targeting medication attitudes and self-efficacy, but the pathway toward behavior change needs further investigation.

METHODS

This 3-month prospective, single-arm cohort study tested an automated SMS intervention entitled Individualized Texting for Adherence Building- Cardiovascular (iTAB-CV) in 38 participants with BD and HTN. The Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ) measures the percentage of BD and HTN non-adherence over the past week and the past month. Attitudinal and habit measures including the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ), the Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale-Revised (MASES-R), the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI), the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), and the Attitudes toward Mood Stabilizers Questionnaire (AMSQ) were given for BD and HTN medications. Correlational analyses were run to determine the associations between BD and HTN attitudinal and habit indices. Additionally, longitudinal analyses were conducted to determine if attitudes changed over time as a function of a 2-month mobile-health intervention.

RESULTS

Illness attitudes towards BD were worse than towards HTN at the start of the study. Attitudes toward BD and towards mood-stabilizing drugs as well as antihypertensives improved following a mHealth intervention aimed at improving adherence. Furthermore, self-efficacy and habit strength for both BD and HTN drugs were correlated and were responsive to the intervention, with most of the change occurring after the first month of the intervention and not requiring the addition of the explicit reminders.

CONCLUSION

Participants who received iTAB-CV showed improved attitudes towards BD and mood-stabilizing medication, and had an improvement in self-efficacy and habit strength towards taking both BD and HTN medications. Increased attention to mechanisms of change in mHealth interventions for adherence may facilitate impact. It should be noted that the methodology of the study limits drawing causal conclusions and suggests the need for a randomized control trial.

The Relationship Between Medication Attitudes and Medication Adherence Behavior in Adults With Bipolar Disorder

The relationship between medication attitudes and adherence as well as reliable measures of medication attitudes need further study. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Attitudes Toward Mood Stabilizers Questionnaire (AMSQ) in bipolar participants and the relationship between medication attitudes and adherence, measured by the self-reported Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ). Inclusion criteria included mood stabilizer treatment and 20% or more medication nonadherence. Measures were given pretreatment and posttreatment. Average age was 47 years; majority were female (69%), African American (67%), and unmarried (53%). AMSQ's test-retest reliability was ρ = 0.73 (p < 0.001). AMSQ correlated with TRQ (rs = 0.20, p < 0.01) at baseline. Factor analysis identified three factors: positive/favorable attitudes, negative/critical attitudes, and unintentional nonadherence. Change in AMSQ across time correlated with change in TRQ. The AMSQ is valid psychometrically and is sensitive to change. Medication attitudes are related to adherence behavior. Interventions should include targeting specific domains of medication attitudes, such as illness knowledge.

Use of a serious game to strengthen medication adherence in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder following a psychoeducational programme: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Although psychoeducation programmes are the gold-standard intervention in bipolar disorder (BD), more innovative tools are needed to broaden and consolidate their effects, especially on treatment adherence. Serious games could be an option.

METHODS

We carried out a two-arm open randomized controlled trial to compare the add-on use of the serious game BIPOLIFE® for one month (n = 20) vs. treatment as usual (TAU; n = 21) following the completion of a psychoeducation programme in euthymic adults with BD. The primary outcome was the percentage of adherent patients (i.e., patients with a Medication Adherence Rating Scale, MARS, total score >7) at 4 months after the end of the psychoeducation programme. We also measured the changes in therapeutic adherence and beliefs on pharmacological treatments (Drug Attitude Inventory, DAI) between study inclusion and the 1-month (end of BIPOLIFE® use) and 4-month visits, healthcare use during the study period, and BIPOLIFE® acceptability.

RESULTS

The percentage of adherent patients was lower in the BIPOLIFE® group than in the TAU group at inclusion (p = 0.02). Conversely, the absolute variation of the MARS and DAI scores was higher in the BIPOLIFE® than in the TAU group at the 1-month visit (p = 0.03 and p = 0.002, respectively) but not at the 4-month visit (p = 0.22 and p = 0.07, respectively).

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size, and low frequency of connexion to BIPOLIFE® declared by the patients.

CONCLUSION

BIPOLIFE® may help patients with BD to increase their confidence in medications, if used regularly.

Validity and characteristics of patient-evaluated adherence to medication via smartphones in patients with bipolar disorder: exploratory reanalyses on pooled data from the MONARCA I and II trials

BACKGROUND

Non-adherence to medication is associated with increased risk of relapse in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

OBJECTIVES

To (1) validate patient-evaluated adherence to medication measured via smartphones against validated adherence questionnaire; and (2) investigate characteristics for adherence to medication measured via smartphones.

METHODS

Patients with BD (n=117) evaluated adherence to medication daily for 6-9 months via smartphones. The Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and the Rogers' Empowerment questionnaires were filled out. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Functional Assessment Short Test were clinically rated. Data were collected multiple times per patient. The present study represents exploratory pooled reanalyses of data collected as part of two randomised controlled trials.

FINDINGS

During the study 90.50% of the days were evaluated as 'medication taken', 6.91% as 'medication taken with changes' and 2.59% as 'medication not taken'. Adherence to medication measured via smartphones was valid compared with the MARS (B: -0.049, 95% CI -0.095 to -0.003, p=0.033). Younger age and longer illness duration were significant predictors for non-adherence to medication (model concerning age: B: 0.0039, 95% CI 0.00019 to 0.0076, p=0.040). Decreased affective symptoms measured with smartphone-based patient-reported mood and clinical ratings as well as decreased empowerment were associated with non-adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Smartphone-based monitoring of adherence to medication was valid compared with validated adherence questionnaire. Younger age and longer illness duration were predictors for non-adherence. Increased empowerment was associated with adherence.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Using smartphones for empowerment of adherence using patient-reported measures may be helpful in everyday clinical settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01446406 and NCT02221336.

Antipsychotic Medication in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

PURPOSE

There is limited evidence on the use of antipsychotic medications to treat people with schizophrenia in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This systematic literature review identified original research on use of antipsychotic drugs for primary psychotic disorders in SSA, assessed the methodological quality of studies, summarized intervention strategies, and examined patient-level outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane Collaboration, African Journals Online, and CINAHL databases were searched for studies in SSA that focused on antipsychotic treatment for primary psychotic disorders and that investigated at least one patient-level outcome. Articles in English and published before April 2019 were included. Epidemiological studies, drug discontinuation studies, studies with drugs other than antipsychotics, and multicenter studies that did not specify SSA results were excluded. An adapted standardized instrument assessed methodological quality.

RESULTS

Twenty-six articles were reviewed. Three levels of evidence were found: single-group reports, quasi-experimental studies, and randomized controlled trials. Study outcomes included change in psychiatric symptoms, adverse effects, remission rates, or change in functional status. Nine studies reported improvements in psychiatric symptoms with antipsychotic medication. Seven studies investigating adverse effects of antipsychotics found that they were associated with an increase in metabolic syndrome. Two studies reported that remission was achieved in most subjects, and one study reported improvements in functional status.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite adverse effects, treatment with antipsychotic medications may be beneficial for individuals with primary psychotic disorders in SSA. Apart from South Africa, there is a scarcity of research on antipsychotics from countries in SSA, and there are numerous important gaps in the literature.

Self-Report for Measuring and Predicting Medication Adherence: Experts' Experience in Predicting Adherence in Stable Psychiatric Outpatients and in Pharmacokinetics

THE PROBLEM

Poor adherence to appropriately prescribed medication is a global challenge for psychiatrists.

PRIOR STUDIES

Measuring adherence is complicated. In our recent three-country naturalistic study including more than 1000 patients and their adherence to multiple medication prescriptions at the same time, patients' self-report of adherence to each specific drug was the only practical option for measuring adherence. Systematic literature reviews provide inconsistent results for sociodemographic, clinical and medication variables as predictors of adherence to psychiatric drugs. Our studies over the last 10 years in relatively stable psychiatric outpatients have shown that some self-reported health beliefs had consistent, strong effects and a better predictive role. Three dimensions of these health beliefs are characteristics of the individual: 1) attitudes toward psychiatric medication such as pharmacophobia (fear of taking drugs or medicines), 2) health locus of control (the belief patients have about who or what agent determines the state of their health), 3) psychological reactance (an emotional reaction in direct contradiction to rules or regulations that threaten or suppress certain freedoms in behavior). They can be measured by the Patient Health Beliefs Questionnaire on Psychiatric Treatment. The attitude toward each specific medication can be measured by the necessity-concern framework and summarized as the presence or absence of skepticism about that drug. After 25 years conducting pharmacokinetic studies in psychiatric drugs, particularly antipsychotics, we have limited understanding of how to use blood levels to predict the effects of non-adherence or to establish it.

EXPERT OPINION ON FUTURE STUDIES

Future studies to predict adherence should include the inpatient setting and explore insight. Studying the pharmacokinetics associated with non-adherence in each psychiatric drug is a major challenge. Medication adherence is a complex and dynamic process changing over time in the same patient. Personalizing adherence using psychological or pharmacological variables are in their initial stages.

Self-reported medication adherence and its correlates in a lithium-maintained cohort with bipolar disorder at a tertiary care centre in India

BACKGROUND

Lithium remains a cornerstone of prophylaxis in bipolar disorder (BD), but adherence continues to be a major clinical challenge and merits a closer attention. There is scant literature available in Indian as well as Asian context.

METHODS

This study was conducted at Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi with an aim to assess the self-reported medication adherence and its correlates among a naturalistic, lithium-maintained cohort (n = 76) with bipolar disorder. Subjects were included if they were on lithium therapy ≥1 year, met DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar disorder and were in clinical remission (≥1 month). Besides sociodemographic and clinical performa, participants were assessed on medication adherence rating scale (MARS), lithium questionnaire for knowledge and lithium attitude questionnaire (LAQ).

RESULTS

Mean age was 35.7 ± 10.6 years (males: 59.2%); median duration of illness and lithium therapy was 84 months and 24.5 months, respectively. Mean MARS score was 6.95 ± 2.81. Regression analysis (with MARS total as dependent variable) found LAQ score to be the single most significant predictor variable (β=-0.681, p < 0.0001), explaining over 75% of the total variance. In regression model with MARS factor-1 score as dependent variable, the 'LAQ score' (β=-0.601, p < 0.0001) and 'being accompanied by family during psychiatric visits (always/mostly) in the past year' (β = 0.193, p = 0.010) emerged as significant predictor variables.

CONCLUSION

Adherence in lithium-maintained treatment-seeking cohort of patients with BD remains far from ideal as observed in this naturalistic setting. Lithium-related attitudes and being accompanied by family during psychiatric visits were found to be significant predictors for adherence.

Understanding Aging in Bipolar Disorder by Integrating Archival Clinical Research Datasets

OBJECTIVE

Although 25% of people with bipolar disorder (BD) are over age 60, there is a dearth of research on older age bipolar disorder (OABD). This report describes an initial effort to create an integrated OABD database using the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive (NDA). Goals were to: 1) combine data from three BD studies in the United States that included overlapping data elements; 2) investigate research questions related to aims of the original studies; and 3) take an important first step toward combining existing datasets relevant to aging and BD.

METHODS

Data were prepared and uploaded to the NDA, with a focus on data elements common to all studies. As appropriate, data were harmonized to select or collapse categories suitable for cross-walk analysis. Associations between age, BD symptoms, functioning, medication load, medication adherence, and medical comorbidities were assessed. The total sample comprised 451 individuals, mean age 57.7 (standard deviation: 13.1) years.

RESULTS

Medical comorbidity was not significantly associated with either age or functioning and there did not appear to be an association between medication load, comorbidity, age, and adherence. Men and African-Americans were significantly more likely to have poor adherence. Both BD mania and depression symptoms were associated with functioning, but this differed across studies.

CONCLUSION

Despite limitations including heterogeneity in study design and samples and cross-sectional methodology, integrated datasets represent an opportunity to better understand how aging may impact the presentation and evolution of chronic mental health disorders across the lifespan.

Trajectories of adherence to mood stabilizers in patients with bipolar disorder

Background

Nonadherence with mood stabilizers is a major problem that negatively impacts the course of bipolar disorder. Medication adherence is a complex individual behavior, and adherence rates often change over time. This study asked if distinct classes of adherence trajectories with mood stabilizers over time could be found, and if so, which patient characteristics were associated with the classes.

Methods

This analysis was based on 12 weeks of daily self-reported data from 273 patients with bipolar 1 or II disorder using ChronoRecord computer software. All patients were taking at least one mood stabilizer. The latent class mixed model was used to detect trajectories of adherence based on 12 weekly calculated adherence datapoints per patient.

Results

Two distinct trajectory classes were found: an adherent class (210 patients; 77%) and a less adherent class (63 patients; 23%). The characteristics associated with the less adherent class were: more time not euthymic (p < 0.001) and female gender (p = 0.016). No other demographic associations were found.

Conclusion

In a sample of motivated patients who complete daily mood charting, about one quarter were in the less adherent class. Even patients who actively participate in their care, such as by daily mood charting, may be nonadherent. Demographic characteristics may not be useful in assessing individual adherence. Future research on longitudinal adherence patterns in bipolar disorder is needed.

Outcomes of Psychoeducation and a Text Messaging Adherence Intervention Among Individuals With Hypertension and Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of psychoeducation plus an automated text messaging intervention (Individualized Texting for Adherence Building-Cardiovascular [iTAB-CV]) to improve adherence to antihypertensives and bipolar disorder medication.

METHODS

After a psychoeducation program, iTAB-CV was administered for 2 months. In month 1, participants received one educational-motivational and one mood rating text daily. In month 2, medication reminders were added.

RESULTS

The sample (N=38) was 74% African American and 53% women, with a mean±SD age of 51.53±9.06. Antihypertensive nonadherence decreased from a mean of 43%±23% to 21%±18% at 12 weeks (χ²=34.6, df=3, p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure decreased from a mean of 144.8±15.5 mmHg to 136.0±17.8 mmHg (χ²=17.6, df=3, p<.001). Retention was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

In this uncontrolled trial, participants were highly engaged and medication adherence and reduced systolic blood pressure were sustained after psychoeducation plus iTAB-CV. Because iTAB-CV is automated and delivered remotely, it has the potential to reach a large and challenging population.

Personalized Pharmacotherapy for Bipolar Disorder: How to Tailor Findings From Randomized Trials to Individual Patient-Level Outcomes

The quest for "personalized medicine" in psychiatry has focused mainly on pursuing potential biomarkers such as pharmacogenetic predictors of drug response. However, the collective randomized trial database across phases of bipolar disorder allows one to identify clinical characteristics that inform the likelihood of desired treatment outcomes. In turn, those characteristics, termed moderators and mediators of drug response, enable those who administer treatment to construct clinical profiles that can help them tailor pharmacotherapies to the features of a given patient rather than simply to an overall diagnosis. Bipolar disorder typically involves more heterogeneous than uniform clinical presentations, partly because of its highly prevalent psychiatric and medical comorbid conditions. Further clinical diversity arises from characteristics such as bipolar I versus II disorder subtype, rapid cycling, mixed versus pure affective episodes, psychosis, anxiety, chronicity, cognitive dysfunction, and suicidality, among other distinguishing features. By coupling such profiles with an awareness of the psychotropic breadth of spectrum held by particular medications, clinicians can devise strategic combination therapy regimens, capitalizing on synergies and using drugs that exert multiple relevant effects, addressing comorbid conditions, incorporating medications that could offset adverse effects of other agents, and avoiding or deprescribing medication options that lack known evidence to target symptoms within the clinical profile of a given patient.

Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder 2018 (KMAP-BP 2018): Fourth Revision

Objective

The Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) was first published in 2002 through an expert consensus of opinion, and updated in 2006, 2010, and 2014. This study constitutes the fourth revision of the KMAP-BP.

Methods

A 50-item questionnaire was used to obtain the consensus of experts regarding pharmacological treatment strategies for various phases of adult bipolar disorder and six items for pediatric bipolar disorder. The review committee included 84 Korean psychiatrists and 43 child and adolescent psychiatry experts.

Results

The preferred first-step strategies for acute mania were the combination of a mood stabilizer (MS) and an atypical antipsychotic (AAP), MS monotherapy, and AAP monotherapy. A combination of a MS and an AAP, and AAP monotherapy were preferred for psychotic mania. The first-step strategies for mild to moderate bipolar depression were monotherapy with MS, AAP, or lamotrigine (LMT), and the combination of a MS and an AAP or LMT, or a combination of an AAP and LMT. The combination of two among a MS, AAP, and LMT were preferred for non-psychotic severe depression. A combination of a MS and an AAP or the combination of an AAP with an antidepressant or LMT were the first-line options for psychotic severe depression.

Conclusion

The recommendations of the KMAP-BP 2018 have changed from the previous version by reflecting recent developments in pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder. KMAP-BP 2018 provides clinicians with a wealth of information regarding appropriate strategies for treating patients with bipolar disorder.

Treatment alliance and adherence in bipolar disorder

The clinician patient relationship lies at the core of psychiatric practice and delivery of mental health care services. The concept of treatment alliance in psychiatry has its origins in psychotherapy, but has also been influenced by several other constructs such as patient-centred care (PCC) and shared decision-making (SDM). Similarly, there has been a shift in conceptualization of treatment-adherence in psychiatric disorders including bipolar disorder (BD) from illness-centred and clinician-centred approaches to patient-centred ones. Moreover, the traditional compliance based models are being replaced by those based on concordance between clinicians and patients. Newer theories of adherence in BD place considerable emphasis on patient related factors and the clinician patient alliance is considered to be one of the principal determinants of treatment-adherence in BD. Likewise, current notions of treatment alliance in BD also stress the importance of equal and collaborative relationships, sensitivity to patients' viewpoints, sharing of knowledge, and mutual responsibility and agreement regarding decisions related to treatment. Accumulated evidence from quantitative research, descriptive accounts, qualitative studies and trials of psychosocial interventions indicates that efficacious treatment alliances have a positive influence on adherence in BD. Then again, research on the alliance-adherence link in BD lags behind the existing literature on the subject in other medical and psychiatric conditions in terms of the size and quality of the evidence, the consistency of its findings and clarity about underlying processes mediating this link. Nevertheless, the elements of an effective alliance which could have a positive impact on adherence in BD are reasonably clear and include PCC, collaborative relationships, SDM, open communication, trust, support, and stability and continuity of the relationship. Therefore, clinicians involved in the care of BD would do well to follow these principles and improve their interpersonal and communication skills in order to build productive alliances with their patients. This could go a long way in confronting the ubiquitous problem of non-adherence in BD. The role of future research in firmly establishing the alliance-adherence connection and uncovering the processes underlying this association will also be vital in devising effective ways to manage non-adherence in BD.

A 6-Month, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial of Customized Adherence Enhancement Versus Bipolar-Specific Educational Control in Poorly Adherent Individuals With Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE

Nonadherence in bipolar disorder (BD) ranges from 20% to 60%. Customized adherence enhancement (CAE) is a brief, BD-specific approach that targets individual adherence barriers. This prospective, 6-month, randomized controlled trial conducted from October 2012 to July 2017 compared CAE versus a rigorous BD-specific educational program (EDU) on adherence, symptoms, and functional outcomes in poorly adherent individuals.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-four participants with DSM-IV BD were randomized to CAE (n = 92) or EDU (n = 92). Primary outcome was adherence change measured by the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ) and BD symptoms measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Other outcomes were scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impressions Scale. Assessments were conducted at screening, baseline, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, and 6 months.

RESULTS

The sample mean (SD) age was 47.40 (10.46) years; 68.5% were female, and 63.0% were African American. At screening, individuals missed a mean (SD) of 55.15% (28.22%) of prescribed BD drugs within the past week and 48.01% (28.46%) in the past month. Study attrition was < 20%. At 6 months, individuals in CAE had significantly improved past-week (P = .001) and past-month (P = .048) TRQ scores versus those in EDU. Past-week TRQ score improvement remained significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. There were no treatment arm differences in BPRS scores or other symptoms, possibly related to low symptom baseline values. Baseline-to-6-month comparison showed significantly higher GAF scores (P = .036) for CAE versus EDU. Although both groups used more mental health services at 6 months compared to baseline, increase for CAE was significantly less than that for EDU (P = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas both CAE and EDU were associated with improved outcomes, CAE had additional positive effects on adherence, functioning, and mental health resource use compared to EDU.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00183495.

A Review of Asenapine in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder places a significant burden on the affected individuals, their family, healthcare systems and the overall economy. More treatment options are needed, especially those with better efficacy and tolerability. Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic approved in Europe (brand name Sycrest^®) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults, and in the US (brand name Saphris^®) for the treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in adults and children aged 10-17 years. It is the antagonistic activity at the D₂ receptor that is likely responsible for the antimanic properties of asenapine. Clinical trials have demonstrated that asenapine mono- and add-on therapy is effective in the short- and long-term treatment of mania associated with bipolar I disorder in adult and paediatric patients. In addition, post hoc and pooled data analyses have shown that asenapine is effective in reducing clinically significant depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar I disorder. The most common adverse events associated with asenapine are somnolence, dizziness, extrapyramidal symptoms, increased bodyweight and oral hypoesthesia. However, the incidence of these events, particularly weight gain, is generally lower than with olanzapine. In one study, asenapine has been shown to improve health-related quality of life. Economic analyses indicate that the use of asenapine can, over time, lead to a reduction in the costs of treatment.

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)

Objective

Individuals living with bipolar disorder (BD) have poorer management of chronic medical conditions such as hypertension (HTN), and worse treatment adherence than the general population. The study objective was to obtain information from patients with both BD and HTN that would inform the development of an m-Health intervention to improve medication adherence for poorly adherent individuals living with both these chronic illnesses.

Methods

Focus group methodology was used to collect information from 13 participants on perceived barriers and facilitators to BD and HTN medication adherence, as well as feedback on the demonstration and use of a bidirectional text messaging system for medication reminders. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis with an emphasis on dominant themes.

Results

Forgetfulness was the most frequently mentioned barrier to taking antihypertensive medications, and decisions about taking them were often influenced by BD mood fluctuations and the burden of having to take "too many pills" for both chronic illnesses. Participants' feedback about the use of a text-messaging system to help with medication adherence for BD and HTN was very positive, and their suggestions for modification were incorporated into a more customized system for testing in a Phase 2 trial.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that patient engagement in the development of an m-health intervention has the potential to improve adherence with both BD and HTN medications in individuals with known sub-optimal adherence. Patient engagement in health care is essential if we are to optimize patient outcomes.

Infectious and immunogenetic factors in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

Despite the evidence supporting the association between infection and bipolar disorder (BD), the genetic vulnerability that mediates its effects has yet to be clarified. A genetic origin for the immune imbalance observed in BD, possibly involved in the mechanisms of pathogen escape, has, however, been suggested in recent studies.

METHOD

Here, we present a critical review based on a systematic literature search of articles published until December 2016 on the association between BD and infectious/immunogenetic factors.

RESULTS

We provide evidence suggesting that infectious insults could act as triggers of maladaptive immune responses in BD and that immunogenetic vulnerability may amplify the effects of such environmental risk factors, increasing susceptibility to subsequent environmental encounters. Quality of evidence was generally impaired by scarce attempt of replication, small sample sizes and lack of high-quality environmental measures.

CONCLUSION

Infection has emerged as a potential preventable cause of morbidity in BD, urging the need to better investigate components of the host-pathogen interaction in patients and at-risk subjects, and thus opening the way to novel therapeutic opportunities.

Neuropsychological functioning, age, and medication adherence in bipolar disorder

Objectives

Poor adherence to medication is frequent in bipolar disorder (BD) and has been associated with several factors. To date, the relationship between low adherence and neuropsychological functioning in BD is still unclear. As age and neuropsychological functioning might have opposing influences on adherence, our aim was to investigate this link with a particular focus on the effect of age.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, we included 353 patients divided into two age-groups (16–46; 47–71) from a French cohort diagnosed with BD (type I, II, NOS) and strictly euthymic. All patients had a standardized clinical and neuropsychological assessment and were categorized as high (n = 186) or low (n = 167) adherent based on their score from the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Clinical information was collected based on a standardized interview and clinical validated scales. Neuropsychological performances were evaluated with an established standardized neuropsychological battery for bipolar disorder patients. After univariate analysis, neuropsychological and clinical predictors of low adherence were included in two age-specific stepwise multiple logistic regressions.

Results

A smaller number of hospitalizations (OR = 0.846, p = 0.012), a shorter illness duration (OR = 0.937, p = 0.003) and higher adverse effects (OR = 1.082, p<0.001) were associated with a greater risk of low adherence in the younger patients. In the older patients, low adherence was also predicted by a smaller number of hospitalizations (OR = 0.727, p = 0.008) and higher adverse effects (OR = 1.124, p = 0.005). Interestingly poor inhibition performance was also a significant predictor of low adherence in older patients (OR = 0.924, p = 0.030).

Conclusions

We found an age-specific relationship between cognitive functioning and adherence in patients with BD. Poor inhibition performances predicted low adherence in older patients only. Our results highlight the need to provide age-adapted therapeutic interventions to improve adherence in patients with BD.