The impact of depressive symptoms and psychosocial factors on medication adherence in cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to determine the influence of depression and psychosocial factors on medication adherence in cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A questionnaire including measures of depression, beliefs about medicines, health locus of control and adherence to medication (self-report) was completed by 122 outpatients attending a cardiac clinic.

Results: Analysis revealed that 14.8% of participants were non-adherent with their cardiovascular medication and 41.7% had scores indicative of depressive symptoms as determined by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Higher scores on this scale and strong concern scores on the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire about the potential adverse effects of using medication as prescribed were found to be associated with self-reported non-adherence.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings imply that the relationship between depressive symptoms in cardiovascular patients, together with certain psychosocial factors, could have negative consequences for adherence to medication.

Practice implications: Given that there is emerging evidence to suggest an association between depression and medication non-adherence, healthcare professionals should consider this when dealing with cardiovascular patients.