The effect of nurse-led motivational interviewing on medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) in an outpatient setting.

Design and methods: Pretest-posttest design was used. The 3-week MI intervention consisted of one face-to-face session and two follow-up telephone interventions. Outcome measures included medication adherence, self-efficacy, and motivation to change.

Findings: Participants demonstrated significant improvement in medication adherence, self-efficacy, and motivation to change after receiving the MI.

Practice implications: MI shows promising results as a treatment approach to improve medication adherence in adults with BD. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners could improve client health outcomes by implementing MI techniques.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; medication adherence; motivational interviewing; outpatient psychiatry.