Health Belief Model and Treatment Adherence in Patients With Dissociative Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To examine how health belief model constructs influence treatment adherence among patients with dissociative disorders and to explore how demographic variables influence the relationship.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used stratified random sampling to assess 130 patients with dissociative disorders at Allied Hospital 2, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Data were collected over a 4- month period (July 1 to October 31, 2024) via a standardized health belief model questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS v25. Health belief model constructs served as exposure variables, with treatment adherence as he outcome; correlation and regression analyses were performed.

Results: Of 130 dissociative patients, 65 were compliant and 65 were noncompliant. Perceived benefits correlated significantly with compliance (P=.003), with 61.6% of the compliant group reporting high benefits versus 38.3% of the noncompliant group. Perceived barriers were inversely related to adherence (P=.007). No significant associations were found for perceived severity (P=.104), susceptibility (P=.365), or cues to action (P=.588). The following demographic factors showed no significant correlations with adherence: age (P=.366), sex (P=.415), marital status (P=.514), education (P=.197), occupational status (P=.571), employment type (P=.437), and time since diagnosis (P=.189).

Conclusion: The results showed that perceived benefits and barriers within the health belief model had considerable effects on treatment adherence among people with dissociative disorders. Demographic characteristics and other health belief model components did not significantly correlate with compliance. Targeted interventions to strengthen perceived benefits and reduce perceived barriers could enhance adherence in this population.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2026;28(2):25m04085.

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