Treatment-Related Factors for Medication Non-Adherence Among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: An Explanatory...

This study aimed to examine treatment-related factors influencing antidepressant non-adherence among patients with Major depressive disorder in Pakistan.

An explanatory sequential mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed. The study first conducted questionnaire-based quantitative research to assess non-adherence and its treatment-related predictors. This was followed by semi-structured interviews with a purposively selected subset of participants who were poorly adherent to explore their contextual experiences. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated using narrative synthesis and joint displays.

A total of 2,513 participants with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) were surveyed. Among them, 812 (32.3%) were classified as poorly adherent, 719 (28.6%) as moderately adherent, and 982 (39.1%) as highly adherent, based on the UMGLS-4. High ADR burden, low DAI-10 scores, unemployment, low income, and age above 55 years were significantly associated with non-adherence (p <0.05). Participants with high ADR burden were 1.42 times more likely to be non-adherent (AOR = 1.42, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings from 17 interviews supported and expanded these associations, revealing how sedation, weight gain, cultural interpretations of medication as "hot", lack of treatment timelines, and poor pharmacy support discouraged routine antidepressant use.

A combination of physiological, cognitive, and systemic treatment-related barriers drives antidepressant non-adherence among Pakistani MDD patients. Addressing these factors through culturally sensitive ADR counselling, consistent follow-up, and pharmacist-led support may improve adherence and treatment outcomes in low-resource mental health settings.