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Adherence to Antidepressants in Underserved Communities: A Comparison of Electronic Monitoring and Self-report Measures

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Abstract

Nonadherence to antidepressants is widespread and poses a significant barrier to optimal management and treatment of depression in community settings. The objective of this study was to compare self-reported and electronic monitoring of adherence to antidepressants and to examine the relationship of these measures with depressive symptoms in a medically underserved community. Adherence to antidepressants was measured in 38 primary care patients from the West Philadelphia area using self-report and electronic monitoring (Medication Event Monitoring System caps). Self-report and electronic monitoring of antidepressant adherence showed fair agreement at baseline, slight agreement at 6 weeks, and slight agreement at 12 weeks. Adherence to antidepressants as assessed by electronic monitors was significantly associated with depression remission at 12 weeks [adjusted odds ratio 18.6, 95% confidence interval (1.05, 330.56)]. Compared with electronic monitoring, self-reported adherence tended to overestimate medication adherence to antidepressants. Adherence assessed by electronic monitoring was associated with depression remission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Rd., Glenside, PA, 19038, USA

    Heather F. McClintock, Angela N. BeKampis & Erica Hartmann

  2. Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hillary R. Bogner

  3. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hillary R. Bogner

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  1. Heather F. McClintock
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McClintock, H.F., BeKampis, A.N., Hartmann, E. et al. Adherence to Antidepressants in Underserved Communities: A Comparison of Electronic Monitoring and Self-report Measures. Community Ment Health J 56, 727–734 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00533-2

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