Analysis of Medication Adherence Status and Influencing Factors in Adolescents with Major Depressive Episodes

Abstract

Background: By analyzing the current status and influencing factors of medication adherence in adolescent patients with major depressive episode, this study aimed to provide more evidence on clinical medication treatment of such patients.  Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 218 adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) admitted to the mental health center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the study subjects. The 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ-8) was used to group the patients. All of the patients were collected in accordance with general sociological characteristics and disease characteristics. Conducted χ2 test, t-test, and binary logistic regression analysis. p values less than 0.05 indicated statistically significant differences.  Results: A total of 218 adolescents with MDD were included in this study. The average score of MAQ-8 was 4.44 ± 2.09, of which 139 (63.76%) with a score less than 6 were included in the medication non-adherence group. Six to eight points with 79 cases (36.24%) were included in the medication compliance group. Family economic status (odds ratio (OR) = 6.211, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.761–13.974), family history (OR = 2.298, 95% CI 1.043–5.062), course of diseases (OR = 2.107, 95% CI 1.002–4.429), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (OR = 2.303, 95% CI 1.043–5.084), drug side effects (OR = 7.139, 95% CI 3.257–15.647), attitude to treatment (OR = 2.583, 95% CI 1.221–5.466), and satisfaction with doctors (OR = 2.338, 95% CI 1.08–5.064) were the effect of medication adherence.  Conclusion: Severe depression of adolescent patients with poor medication compliance, as well as influencing factors, including family economic conditions, family history, course of diseases, BDI score, and drug side effects, were clinically investigated to formulate corresponding measures and improve patients' medication adherence.