title: Impact of pharmacist intervention on adherence and measurable patient outcomes among depressed patients: a randomised controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adherence to antidepressant treatment is essential for the effective management of patients with major depressive disorder. Adherence to medication is a dynamic decision-making process, and pharmacists play an important role in improving adherence to antidepressant treatment in different settings within the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess whether pharmacist interventions based on shared decision making improved adherence and patient-related outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomised controlled study with a 6-month follow-up. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: 1) intervention group (IG) (usual pharmacy services plus pharmacist interventions based on shared decision making); or 2) control group (CG) (usual pharmacy services). Recruited patients fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: aged 18 to 60 years diagnosed with a major depressive disorder, and no history of psychosis or bipolar disorders. A research assistant blinded to the group allocations collected all data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomised to the IG (n = 119) or CG (n = 120). Nineteen patients dropped out of the study during the follow-up phase. After 6 months, patients in the IG had significantly more favorable medication adherence, treatment satisfaction, general overuse beliefs, and specific concern beliefs. However, the groups did not differ in severity of depression or health-related quality of life after 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings emphasise the important role of pharmacists in providing direct patient care in regular pharmacy practice to improve adherence to medications and other patient-reported outcomes.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN34879893, Date assigned: 30/12/2014.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Al-Amal Psychiatric Hospital, P.O. Box 33626, Riyadh, 11458, Saudi Arabia. khalafaljumaah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aljumah
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. alamalpharmacy@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents