Explanatory Models and Medication Adherence in Patients with Depression in South India

Conceptualization of depression may have bearing on treatment seeking. It may affect adherence behaviour of the patients.

To find out the explanatory models and their relationship with socio-demographic variables and medication adherence in patients with depression.

Fifty-eight consecutive patients with depression in remission were recruited as per selection criteria. Socio-demographic details were collected. Patients were assessed using Mental Distress Explanatory Model Questionnaire (MDEMQ) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS).

Significant scores were observed in all dimensions of explanatory models. In the Mann-Whitney U test the patient's marital status (MU=113.500, p=0.05, sig≤0.05, 2-tailed), and family history of mental illness (MU=165.5, p=0.03, sig≤0.05, 2-tailed) had a statistically significant group difference in the score of MDEMQ. In linear regression analysis, four predictors (MDEMQ subscales Stress, Western physiology, Non-Western physiology and Supernatural) had significantly predicted the value of MMAS (R2=0.937, f=153.558, p<0.001).

Findings of this study suggested that patients with depression harbor multidimensional explanatory model. The levels of explanatory models are inversely associated with levels of medication adherence.