Why people do not take their psychotropic drugs as prescribed: results of the 2000 National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.
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.
Cooper
C
C
UCL, Department of Mental Health Sciences, London, UK.
Bebbington
P
P
King
M
M
Brugha
T
T
Meltzer
H
H
Bhugra
D
D
Jenkins
R
R
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
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs