The role of the affective temperament in the treatment adherence in psychiatry.
BACKGROUND
Adherence to psychotropic medications is affected by factors related to the treatment, to the physician, to the environment and to the patient himself. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of affective temperaments on treatment adherence.


METHODS
Thirty six stabilized outpatients were recruited from the aftercare consultation of Psychiatry to perform Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A) for affective temperaments and the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) for treatment adherence.


RESULTS
The total MARS score was negatively correlated with the irritable temperament score. The MARS's score relative to the attitude of patients to psychotropic medications and their negative side effects was negatively correlated with the cyclothymic, the irritable and anxious temperaments. Patients having a diagnosis of psychotic disorder had a significantly greater medication adherence and behaviour toward medication score compared to those having a diagnosis of affective disorder. A greater MARS's score for the negative side effects and attitudes to psychotropic medication was associated with medication by neuroleptics with prolonged action.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest that patients with irritable temperament may have more difficult to follow psychotropic medications, and that patients with cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments may be more attentive and sensitive toward psychotropic medications and their negative side effects.
Psychiatry E Department, Razi Hospital, Cité les Oranger, 2010 Manouba, Medicine University of Tunis, Tunisia.
Lilia
L
Bahrini
Psychiatry E Department, Razi Hospital, Cité les Oranger, 2010 Manouba, Medicine University of Tunis, Tunisia.
Rahma
R
Damak
Psychiatry E Department, Razi Hospital, Cité les Oranger, 2010 Manouba, Medicine University of Tunis, Tunisia.
Mejda
M
Cheour
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
Adherence; MARS adherence; affective temperaments; temperament TEMPS