Interventions to improve medication adherence in persons with mental disorders

Nonadherence to medication is prevalent in patients with mental illness. Various factors responsible for it. As a result, there are more hospitalizations, increased risk of suicide and increased cost of care. Thus, there is a need for effective interventions to improve adherence in mentally ill patients.

Adherence to medication includes participation of patient in decision making. Interventions in the recent years help patients through techniques like psychoeducation, motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy. Interventions involve both patients and caregivers. There is a growing body of research about use of technology -based interventions using smart phones, various applications, digital platforms and artificial intelligence. Recent findings of research indicate that a combination of methods of intervention may be more useful in improving adherence. Some conventional interventions yield good results. Robust research is needed in the field of technology- based interventions.

Non adherence to medication leads to poorer health outcomes and hampers integration of the patient in the society. A collaborative effort of the team of healthcare providers, the patient and caregivers is the way ahead for better adherence and good quality of life.