Frequency of Compliance with Antidepressants using Antidepressant Compliance Questionnaire

Objective: To find out the frequency of compliance of patients using anti-depressants prescribed at out-patient department. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the out-patient department of Institute of Psychiatry, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi from September 10, 2010 till May 10, 2011. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients aged 18 years and above, presenting with moderate depressive illness, able to understand and speak Urdu, taking treatment for at least 4 weeks and belonging to both genders were recruited from out-patient department using consecutive (non-probability) sampling technique. Patients having severe depressive illness with psychotic features and severe agitation were excluded. Antidepressant Compliance Questionnaire was translated and validated through a pilot study and then the Urdu translation was orally administered to each participant for the assessment of compliance with antidepressant medication. Results: Among the participants 74.1% were compliant and 25.9% were non-compliant with anti-depressant medications. Conclusion: This study found a high degree of patient compliance with anti-depressants. The results would help in early recognition of non-compliant patients, so that necessary changes could be made in the treatment plan to ensure better compliance.