[Adherence to patients antidepressant treatment and the factors associated of non-compiance]

Telephone support vs. self-guidance in an Internet-based self-administered psychological program for the treatment of depression: Protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial

Background

Depression is already the leading psychological disability around the world, impairing daily life, well-being, and social functioning and leading to personal and social costs. Despite the effectiveness of Evidence-Based Psychological Practices (EBPP), a significant percentage of depressive individuals remain untreated, especially in Primary Care (PC) settings in Spain. There are numerous barriers that limit access to EBPPs, including high costs, professional training, and adherence problems. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer a cost-effective way to disseminate and scale EBPPs to address these barriers. The iCBT program Smiling is Fun has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective treatment for depression in various Randomized Control Trials. However, adherence and implementation problems in real-world settings need to be addressed. Implementation research can help evaluate these challenges by identifying facilitators and barriers to the implementation process in PC. In this regard, including human support has been pointed out as a possible key factor in addressing the population's mental health needs and promoting treatment adherence.

Objective

The current study aims to examine the effectiveness, adherence rates, and implementation process of Smiling is Fun to address depression in a PC setting considering the influence of telephone support vs no support.

Methods

The proposed research is a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Type I study, with a two-armed randomized controlled design, which will test a clinical intervention for major depressive disorder while gathering information on its implementation in a real-world setting. The study will include adult patients with mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: self-applied psychotherapy or self-applied psychotherapy with psychotherapeutic telephone support. The trial will recruit 110 patient participants, with a loss-to-follow-up rate of 30 %.

Discussion

A study protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study is presented with the aim to assess the implementation of Smiling is Fun for the treatment of depression in PC. The study evaluates the influence of telephone support during a self-administered intervention compared to unguided self-administration. The main goal is to address the barriers and facilitators of the implementation process and to promote treatment adherence. Ultimately, the results of the study could help in the uptake of sustainable resources so that the population could gain better access to psychological interventions in mental health services.

Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT06230237.

Effectiveness of interventions to improve adherence to antidepressant medication in patients with depressive disorders: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Aim

To assess the effectiveness of two interventions of knowledge transfer and behavior modification to improve medication adherence in patients with depressive disorders.

Methods

An open, multicenter, three-arm clinical trial with random allocation by cluster to usual care or to one of the two interventions. The intervention for psychiatrists (PsI) included an educational program based on a patient-centered care model. The intervention for patients and relatives (PtI) included a collaborative care program plus a reminder system that works using an already available medication reminder application. The primary outcome was patient adherence to antidepressant treatment assessed through the Sidorkiewicz Adherence Instrument. Secondary measures were depression severity, comorbid anxiety and health-related quality of life. Mixed regression models with repeated measures were used for data analysis.

Results

Ten psychiatrists and 150 patients diagnosed with depressive disorder from eight Community Mental Health Units in the Canary Islands (Spain) were included. Compared with usual care, no differences in long-term adherence were observed in either group PsI or PtI. The PsI group had significantly improved depression symptoms (B = -0.39; 95%CI: -0.65, -0.12; p = 0.004) during the follow-up period. The PtI group presented improved depression symptoms (B = -0.63; 95%CI: -0.96, -0.30; p < 0.001) and mental quality of life (B = 0.08; 95%CI: 0.004, 0.15; p = 0.039) during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

The assessed interventions to improve adherence in patients with depressive disorder were effective for depression symptoms and mental quality of life, even over the long term. However, no effect on antidepressant adherence was observed.

Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of adherence to antidepressants in depressive disorders: a systematic review with a meta-analysis

Introduction: Current evidence reveals concerning rates of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, possibly influenced by various relevant determinants such as sociodemographic factors or those related to the health system and their professionals. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific evidence on sociodemographic and clinical predictors of adherence to pharmacological treatment in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder. Methods: a systematic review (SR) was conducted. The search for a previous SR was updated and de novo searches were performed in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science (WoS) and PsycInfo (last 10 years). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool for non-randomized studies-of Exposure (ROBINS-E). Meta-analyses were conducted. Results: Thirty-nine studies (n = 2,778,313) were included, 24 of them in the meta-analyses. In the initiation phase, no association of adherence was found with any of the predictors studied. In the implementation and discontinuation phases, middle-aged and older patients had better adherence rates and lower discontinuation rates than younger ones. White patients adhered to treatment better than African-American patients. Discussion: Age and ethnicity are presented as the predictive factors of pharmacological adherence. However, more research is needed in this field to obtain more conclusive results on other possible factors. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023414059], identifier [CRD42023414059].

Medication economic burden of antidepressant non-adherence in Spain

Introduction: Non-adherence to antidepressants is associated with worse disease outcomes (morbidity and mortality) and correlates with higher healthcare resource utilization and costs. Methods: A population-based registry study was conducted to assess non-adherence and to analyze the economic burden of treatment and from non-adherence to antidepressants in 2021. Non-adherence was measured by the Medication Possession Ratio and those below 80% were classified as non-adherent. Results: In 2021, 246,718 patients (10.60% [95% CI: 10.48-10.72]) received antidepressants at a cost of €29 million. The median antidepressant cost per patient/year was €70.08€, ranging from €7.58 for amitriptyline to €396.66 for agomelatine. Out-of-pocket costs represented 6.09% of total expenditures, with a median copayment of €2.78 per patient. The 19.87% [95% CI 19.52-20.22)] of patients were non-adherent to antidepressants, costing €3.9 million (13.30% of total antidepressant costs). Non-adherence rates exceeded 20% for the tricyclic antidepressants, fluoxetine (23.53%), fluvoxamine (22.42%), and vortioxetine (20.58%). Venlafaxine (14.64%) and citalopram (14.88%) had the lowest non-adherence rates, of less than 15%. The median cost of non-adherent medications per patient/year was €18.96 and ranged from €2.50 (amitriptyline) to €133.42 (agomelatine). Conclusion: Reducing non-adherence to antidepressants is critical to improving clinical and economic outcomes. The implementation of interventions and standardized measures, including early detection indicators, is urgently needed. Antidepressants differ with regard to non-adherence and their cost, and this should be considered when prescribing this medication. The Medication Possession Ratio could be used by the healthcare provider and clinician to identify non-adherent patients for monitoring, and to take necessary corrective actions.

Non-Adherence to Antidepressant Treatment and Related Factors in a Region of Spain: A Population-Based Registry Study

Antidepressants are a commonly prescribed psychotropic medication, and their use has increased in recent years. Medication non-adherence in patients with mental disorders is associated with worse health outcomes. A population-based registry study to assess antidepressant non-adherence during 2021 has been carried out. An indirect method based on the medication possession ratio (MPR) has been utilized. Patients with a MPR under 80% were classified as non-adherent. A multivariate logistic regression to identify non-adherence predictors has been used, considering sociodemographic (age, sex, institutionalization and urbanicity) and health related variables (diagnostics, antidepressant class, multiple prescribers, and polypharmacy). In 2021, 10.6% of the Castile and Leon population used antidepressants. These patients were institutionalized (7.29%), living in urban areas (63.44%), polymedicated with multiple prescribers (57.07%), and using serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (54.77%), other antidepressants (46.82%) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (13.76%). Antidepressants were prescribed mainly for depression (36.73%) and anxiety (29.24%). Non-adherence to antidepressants was more frequent in men (20.56%) than in woman (19.59%) and decreased with increasing age (32% up to 17 years old vs. 13.76% over 80 years old). TCAs were associated with the highest prevalence of non-adherence (23.99%), followed by SSRIs (20.19%) and other antidepressants (18.5%). Predictors of non-adherence in patients on antidepressants were: living in urban areas, using TCAs, and pain occurrence. Non-adherence to antidepressants decreases with aging. Being female, institutionalization, being polymedicated and having depression/anxiety alongside another psychiatric diagnosis are protective factors against non-adherence. The MPR is a robust indicator for the clinician to identify non-adherent patients for monitoring, and adopt any necessary corrective actions.

Adherence to Desvenlafaxine Versus Usual Care and Its Impact on Health Outcomes: A Comparative Real-world Clinical Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Low adherence to treatment is associated with poorer clinical outcome and greater healthcare resources utilization (HRU). Limited data are available on the extent of adherence to each individual antidepressant. The goal of this study was to compare the adherence rate to desvenlafaxine versus usual care with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and/or other serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

Retrospective, multi-centric, observational study including 574 outpatients with MDD. Data were collected from mental and primary care centers. Adherence, persistence, effectiveness, and HRU was evaluated through multivariate regression models.

RESULTS

At 12-months, adjusted adherence rate was higher with desvenlafaxine versus SNRI/SSRI, 67.9% versus 59.9% (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.07-2.59, p = 0.024). Remission rate was numerically higher with desvenlafaxine versus SNRI/SSRI, 55.9% versus 50.1% (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.93-1.98, p = 0.118), as well as treatment response, 76.5% in desvenlafaxine group versus 70.8% in SNRI/SSRI group (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.82-1.90, p = 0.300). Medical visits use was higher in SNRI/SSRI than in desvenlafaxine group [9.8 (4.8) versus 9.1 (6.0), p = 0.019].

CONCLUSIONS

Desvenlafaxine is significantly associated with a higher adherence rate at 12 months compared to usual care based on SSRI or other SNRI. This suggests that desvenlafaxine could improve disease management having a positive impact on disease-associated costs.

Prevalence, Barriers, and Interventions Related to Medication Adherence Among Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Scoping Review

The current scoping review aimed to identify the prevalence, contributing factors, methods of measurement, and interventions related to medication adherence among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). A total of 37 articles met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of medication adherence among patients with MDD ranged from 10.6% to 85.4%. Approximately 67% of studies used self-report data collection. Illness-related factors (e.g., onset of illness, duration of illness, symptoms, illness severity), medication-related factors (e.g., adverse reactions, duration of treatment, cost of treatment), and patient-related factors (e.g., beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, self-stigma) were the most reported factors associated with medication adherence. In addition, multi-faceted interventions were recommended over single-element interventions to enhance medication adherence. There is a need to integrate appropriate and effective assessment measures of medication adherence that lead to better health care outcomes, lower risk factors, and improved interventions related to medication adherence. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(1), 39-51.].

Adherence to Antidepressant Therapies in Patients with Depressive Disorders Attending an Outpatient Clinic in a Public Mental Health Hospital, Antioquia, Colombia in 2017

To evaluate the level of adherence to antidepressant therapies and associated factors in patients with depressive disorders. a cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in patients diagnosed with depressive disorders. The sample was for convenience, and a survey including sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables was designed. The Morisky-Green test, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, and Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire were also used, all of which have been validated for assessing adherence in patients with depression. The qualitative variables were evaluated with absolute and relative frequencies, and a bivariate analysis was performed. This study included 54 patients with an average age of 49.5 ± 13.7 years, and 83.3% were women. All patients were diagnosed with major depression, and 9.25% also had an anxiety disorder. According to the Morisky-Green test, only 37% of patients were compliant with the drug therapy, although this was not statistically significant. Women were less compliant than men (33.3% versus 55.6%; p = 0.21). The beliefs that patients have regarding medication do not have a great impact on adherence to antidepressant therapy. However, it was evidenced that adherent patients had less doubts about the medication administered in comparison to non-adherent patients.

Meaning of Pharmacological Treatment for Families of People With Depression

Medication adherence is related to patient satisfaction with family support. This research aimed to understand the meaning of pharmacotherapy to families of people with major depressive disorder. This qualitative study employed Grounded Theory and Symbolic Interactionism. Seventeen families of people with depression from a Brazilian clinic were included. Data was collected from 2013 to 2014, using open interviews, which were analyzed by open, axial, and selective coding. Medication represented "Tranquility and worry" because it re-established tranquility in family routine, but generated concerns. Thus, families were conflicted and ambivalent about medications, and they interfered with the promotion or impairment of adherence.

The Association Between Benzodiazepine Use and Depression Outcomes in Older Veterans

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are commonly prescribed to older adults with depression, but it is unknown whether they improve antidepressant (AD) adherence or depressive symptoms. We followed 297 older veterans diagnosed with depression and provided a new AD medication prospectively for 4 months. Data include validated self-report measures and VA pharmacy records. At initial assessment, 20.5% of participants were prescribed a BZD. Those with a BZD prescription at baseline were significantly more likely than those without to have a personality disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, or other anxiety disorder, and higher depressive symptom and anxiety symptom scale scores on average. In adjusted regressions, BZD use was not significantly associated with AD adherence, any improvement in depressive symptoms, or a 50% reduction in depressive symptoms. Our results suggest BZD use concurrent with AD treatment does not significantly improve depressive outcomes in older veterans.