What are some ways to improve medication adherence in patients with depression?
Ways to improve medication adherence.
1. Let patients and family members acquire certain knowledge about depression and let them realize that.
① Depression is a disease, not a result of weakness of character.
② Depression can be treated effectively and there are various methods to choose from.
③The goal of treatment for depression is to relieve depression and maintain a normal state of mind, not to mask symptoms.
④Depression has a high relapse rate after stopping medication, with a 50% probability of relapse after the first depressive episode, 75% after the second, and nearly 100% after the third.
⑤ The recovery of depression is to follow certain rules, do not have a lucky chance.
⑥Signs of relapse should be alerted, such as the appearance of insomnia and obvious loss of appetite.
2. Let patients and family members have certain knowledge of treatment.
①Patients should take antidepressants daily;
②The onset of antidepressants should take 2 to 4 weeks;
③After the depressive symptoms have completely disappeared, the patient should continue to take the medication even if he/she feels good;
④Should strictly follow the doctor’s advice, and should not reduce or stop the medication without authorization.
3.Other methods.
①Tell the patient that depressive episodes can increase the risk of impaired social functioning, medical costs and suicide;
② Ask the patient if he/she takes the medication on time;
③ Talk to the patient in a positive manner;
④Attention to answering patients’ practical questions;
⑤ Keep medical prescriptions simple, preferably a single medication, once-daily dosing, and a small number of tablets.
⑥Follow up regularly.