title: Why people do not take their psychotropic drugs as prescribed: results of the 2000 National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the prevalence and determinants of the reasons given for non-adherence to psychiatric medication in a representative community survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data for all participants taking oral psychotropic medication (n = 634) from the 2000 British Survey of National Psychiatric Morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of participants interviewed, 217 (34.2%) reported incomplete adherence to their psychiatric medication. Reasons given included forgetting, losing, running out (37.4%); thinking medication unnecessary (24.6%); reluctance to take drugs (18.9%) and side-effects (14.2%). Those giving forgetfulness or side-effects as reasons were younger. Side-effects were reported more frequently by people with a lower IQ or with psychosis. Those taking Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors were more likely to forget to take their medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two-fifths of people reported that missing their medication was a decision taken because they did not want it or think it necessary. Side-effects are a relatively uncommon reason for under-medication. Our results have implications for interventions to assist adherence.
authors.affiliation: UCL, Department of Mental Health Sciences, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bebbington
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brugha
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhugra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs