Compliance with antidepressant medication among prison inmates with depressive disorders

This study assessed correlates of antidepressant medication compliance among 5,305 inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system who were diagnosed as having a depressive disorder. Use of tricyclic antidepressants, male gender, and higher age were all positively associated with medication compliance scores. This investigation provided no evidence that broader use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors would improve adherence to pharmacologic treatment in this population. The results also suggest that correctional administrators may wish to target younger inmates and women with interventions to improve medication compliance.