Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Sampling Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood from Lateral Tail Vein in Rats During EEG Recordings
Published on: September 1, 2023
Factors associated with treatment non-adherence in patients with epilepsy in Brazil
Carla Maria Maluf Ferrari1, Regina Márcia Cardoso de Sousa, Luiz H M Castro
1São Camilo University Center, São Paulo, Brazil. c-maluf@uol.com.br
Purpose:
To investigate factors associated with treatment non-adherence in Brazilian patients with epilepsy.
Methods:
Prospective cross-sectional study. We evaluated 385 epilepsy outpatients in a tertiary referral center, 18 years or older, literate, without cognitive impairment or active psychiatric disorders, who were independent in daily living activities. Data were analyzed with correlation tests and conjoint analysis using multivariate logistic regression.
Results:
Non-adherence rate, measured by the Morisky-Green Test, was 66.2%, a moderate-to-low adherence level. Non-adherence was higher in men, in younger patients and in patients with uncontrolled seizures. Increasing treatment complexity was also associated with decreased treatment adherence.
Conclusion:
Strategies designed to improve treatment adherence should address peculiarities associated with younger ages and male gender. Physicians should be made aware that prescription of less complex treatment regimens may result in better treatment adherence, and, therefore, better seizure control. The challenge in adjusting AED treatment in this population is to minimize treatment complexity, thus increasing chances for treatment adherence.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
