Antidepressant adherence and associated factors in Thai elderly with depressive disorders: a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Thapanee Jaipinta
  • Sookjaroen Tangwongchai

Keywords:

Aged, antidepressive agents, depressive disorder, medication adherence.

Abstract

Background: Antidepressant adherence is an essential factor influencing clinical responses in depressive disorders. Most Thai depressive patients had poor antidepressant adherence, but the study specific to the elderly, who are vulnerable and unique, is still lacking.
Objective: To investigate antidepressant adherence and associated factors among Thai elderly with depressive disorders.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Patients aged at least 60 years old, who were diagnosed with depressive disorder and received at least one antidepressant prescription, were included in the study. Subjects’ personal and medical data were obtained from the questionnaire and medical records. Antidepressant adherence was assessed through the Medication Taking Behavior measure for Thai patients (MTB-Thai). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between various factors and having suboptimal adherence.
Results: This study included 119 subjects, in which 16.0%, 16.8%, and 67.2% had low, moderate, and high adherence to antidepressants, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed moderate to severe depression, single/divorced/separated marital status, and receiving a treatment regimen that the additional instruction to split tablet of psychotropic medication significantly increased the risk for low-moderate antidepressant adherence with the adjusted Odd ratio of 6.04 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 33.76), 2.95 (95% CI = 1.24, 7.03), and 2.56 (95%CI = 1.09, 6.03), respectively.
Conclusion: The present study identifies only one in six of Thai elderly with depressive disorder reported suboptimal antidepressant adherence. It is recommended to closely monitor the antidepressant nonadherence in the elderly with risk factors and intervene to improve their adherence.

Author Biographies

Thapanee Jaipinta

Background: Antidepressant adherence is an essential factor influencing clinical responses in
depressive disorders. Most Thai depressive patients had poor antidepressant adherence, but the study
specific to the elderly, who are vulnerable and unique, is still lacking.
Objective: To investigate antidepressant adherence and associated factors among Thai elderly with
depressive disorders.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Patients
aged at least 60 years old, who were diagnosed with depressive disorder and received at least one
antidepressant prescription, were included in the study. Subjects’ personal and medical data were
obtained from the questionnaire and medical records. Antidepressant adherence was assessed through
the Medication Taking Behavior measure for Thai patients (MTB-Thai). Multiple logistic regression
was used to examine the association between various factors and having suboptimal adherence.
Results: This study included 119 subjects, in which 16.0%, 16.8%, and 67.2% had low, moderate, and
high adherence to antidepressants, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed moderate
to severe depression, single/divorced/separated marital status, and receiving a treatment regimen that
the additional instruction to split tablet of psychotropic medication significantly increased the risk for
low-moderate antidepressant adherence with the adjusted Odd ratio of 6.04 (95% confidence interval
[CI] = 1.08, 33.76), 2.95 (95% CI = 1.24, 7.03), and 2.56 (95%CI = 1.09, 6.03), respectively.
Conclusion: The present study identifies only one in six of Thai elderly with depressive disorder
reported suboptimal antidepressant adherence. It is recommended to closely monitor the antidepressant
nonadherence in the elderly with risk factors and intervene to improve their adherence.

Sookjaroen Tangwongchai

Background: Antidepressant adherence is an essential factor influencing clinical responses in
depressive disorders. Most Thai depressive patients had poor antidepressant adherence, but the study
specific to the elderly, who are vulnerable and unique, is still lacking.
Objective: To investigate antidepressant adherence and associated factors among Thai elderly with
depressive disorders.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Patients
aged at least 60 years old, who were diagnosed with depressive disorder and received at least one
antidepressant prescription, were included in the study. Subjects’ personal and medical data were
obtained from the questionnaire and medical records. Antidepressant adherence was assessed through
the Medication Taking Behavior measure for Thai patients (MTB-Thai). Multiple logistic regression
was used to examine the association between various factors and having suboptimal adherence.
Results: This study included 119 subjects, in which 16.0%, 16.8%, and 67.2% had low, moderate, and
high adherence to antidepressants, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed moderate
to severe depression, single/divorced/separated marital status, and receiving a treatment regimen that
the additional instruction to split tablet of psychotropic medication significantly increased the risk for
low-moderate antidepressant adherence with the adjusted Odd ratio of 6.04 (95% confidence interval
[CI] = 1.08, 33.76), 2.95 (95% CI = 1.24, 7.03), and 2.56 (95%CI = 1.09, 6.03), respectively.
Conclusion: The present study identifies only one in six of Thai elderly with depressive disorder
reported suboptimal antidepressant adherence. It is recommended to closely monitor the antidepressant
nonadherence in the elderly with risk factors and intervene to improve their adherence.

Downloads

Published

2023-02-02

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2023): January - June 2023

Section

Original article