Treatment Adherence in Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Beliefs Related to Non-Adherence

Objective: Our aim in this study was to identify treatment adherence in bipolar disorder patients who regularly use medications and to examine the factors and beliefs associated with treatment compliance. Method: Our sample consisted of 92 patients who were followed up by bipolar disorder. Participants assessed for diagnosis and remission by criteria of affective disorders part of SCID I then Sociodemographic data form, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and The Beliefs about Medication Compliance Scale (BMCS) was given. Results: Treatment non-adherence rate were %29,3. Variables that differ significantly in non-adherent group then adherent as follows: low education (p=0.03), medications that causes sedation (p=0,001), not educated about treatment (p=0,05), young age (p=0,04), difficulty in obtaining medicine (p=0,003) and treatment complexity (p=0,01). Particularly training the patient with written/visualized materials were higher in adherent group (p=0,02). While there was no significant difference in terms of BMCS benefit subscale (p=0,47), patients with poor treatment compliance reported significantly higher scores on the BMCS barrier subscale (p=0,01). In the logistic regression analysis, sedative medications, difficulty in obtaining medication and treatment complexity were found to be significant predictors of treatment non-adherence. Conclusion: providing access to medication, informing the prescribing medicines with using visual material and patient-centered approaches would increase the compliance of the medication, especially with minimal use of sedative drugs.