Symptom severity, self‐reported adherence, and electronic pill monitoring in poorly adherent patients with bipolar disorder. (3rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sajatovic, Martha; Levin, Jennifer B; Sams, Johnny; Cassidy, Kristin A; Akagi, Kouri; Aebi, Michelle E; Ramirez, Luis F; Safren, Steven A; Tatsuoka, Curtis
• Is Part Of: Bipolar disorders. Volume 17:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 653
• Page End: 661
• Publication Date: 2015-09-03
• Subjects: Manic-depressive illness -- Periodicals; Depression, Mental -- Periodicals; 616.895
• DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12326
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1398-5647

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bdi12326-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="bdi12326-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This analysis of screening and baseline data from an ongoing trial examined self‐report versus automated adherence monitoring and assessed the relationship between bipolar disorder (BD) symptoms and adherence in 104 poorly adherent individuals.</p> </sec> <sec id="bdi12326-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Adherence was measured with the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ) and the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). Symptoms were measured with the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).</p> </sec> <sec id="bdi12326-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The mean age of the sample was 46.3 years [standard deviation (SD) = 9.41 years], with 72% (n = 75) women and 71% (n = 74) African American subjects. Adherence improved from screening to baseline, with a mean missed drug proportion measured by TRQ of 61.43% (SD = 26.48%) versus a baseline mean of 46.61% (SD = 30.55%). The mean proportion of missed medication using MEMS at baseline was 66.43% (SD = 30.40%). The correlation between TRQ and MEMS was 0.47. The correlation between a single <italic>index</italic> drug and all BD medications was 0.95. Symptoms were generally positively correlated with TRQ (worse adherence = more severe symptoms), but in most instances was only at a trend level (p > 0.05), with the exception of the correlations between baseline TRQ and MADRS and BPRS, which were positive (<italic>r </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.20 and <italic>r </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.21, respectively) and significant (p ≤ 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="bdi12326-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>In patients with BD, monitoring increased adherence by 15%. MEMS identified 20% more non‐adherence than self‐report. Using a standard procedure to identify a single <italic>index</italic> drug for adherence monitoring may be one way to assess global adherence in patients with BD receiving polypharmacy treatment. Greater BD symptom severity may be a clinical indicator to assess for adherence problems.</p> </sec> </abstract>