title: Perspectives on reasons of medication nonadherence in psychiatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate factors resulting in medication nonadherence within 6 months before admission to the psychiatric service of our hospital for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, depression, and other psychiatric diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and three patients admitted to the Psychiatry Service of the Medical Faculty were included in this study. Sociodemographic parameters and clinical findings within 6 months before admission and patients' views on reasons of medication nonadherence were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were classified into four groups according to their diagnosis: bipolar disorder (n=68, 33.5%), schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (n=59, 29.1%), depression (n=39, 19.2%), and others (n=37, 18.2%). The ratio of medication nonadherence was higher in the bipolar disorder group when compared to the groups with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, depression, and other disorders (12.1%, 18.2%, and 24.2% vs 45.5%); however, the ratio of medication nonadherence was similar in schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, depression, and the others group. In logistic regression analysis, irregular follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.92-11.31) and diagnosis (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.07-1.95) were determined to be important risk factors for medication nonadherence. The leading factors for medication nonadherence were: "not willing to use medication", "not accepting the disease", and "being disturbed by side effects" in the bipolar disorder group, "not accepting the disease" in the schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder group, "feeling well" in the depression group, and "being disturbed by side effects" in the other diseases group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication nonadherence is an important problem in psychiatric patients and should be dealt with by taking into account the diagnosis, attendance to follow-up appointments, and the patient's attitude. Ensuring regular attendance to follow-up appointments, adjusting the management plan according to the diagnosis, and improving their thoughts about resistance to medication can be beneficial in terms of medication adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya Güliz
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nergiz Hacer
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelleci
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Osmangazi, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semiz
keywords: bipolar disorder; depression; patient’s attitude; schizoaffective disorder; schizophrenia