Allied health clinicians’ beliefs and attitudes about medication adherence in depressive disorders

After experiencing a single episode of depression, as many as 87%

of patients are at risk of relapse within 15 years [1]. Significant

reductions in depressive symptoms and the risk of relapse have

been found when antidepressant medication is maintained for at

least 12 months [2]. However, many primary care patients with

recurrent or chronic depression do not continue antidepressant

medication for a sufficiently long enough period to achieve reductions

in symptoms and reduced risk of relapse [3]. While a broad

range of clinicians, including non-doctors, provide services to

individuals with depression, training in facilitating medication

adherence is often a neglected part of their training [4].

The aim of this study was to examine how adherence knowledge,

skills and beliefs influence allied health clinicians’ efforts to

enhance primary care patient adherence to antidepressant medication.

We also sought to establish whether clinicians’ knowledge,

beliefs and skills would improve following completion of a Medication

Alliance training programme [5].