The effect of adherence therapy on medication adherence, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder

Medication adherence is a crucial health issue in major depressive disorder (MDD) that requires regular monitoring and attention. Hence, there are multiple reasons for medication non-adherence among them. This study aimed to examine the effect of adherence therapy (AT) on medication adherence, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with MDD. One group pretest-posttest, repeated measures time-series design was conducted. A sample of 32 patients was recruited conveniently; they received eight weekly sessions of AT. A self-reported questionnaire was used to measure variables. The analysis showed that the mean scores of the baseline indicated non-adherence, moderate general benefits beliefs about the medication, high beliefs that medication is harmful, high beliefs that doctors overuse medication, high beliefs about potential adverse effects from medication, low perception of MDD severity, and high threatening perception regarding MDD, a moderate degree of confidence in the ability to taking medications, and patients had moderately severe depressive symptoms (M = 16, 3.2, 3.1, 4.1, 3.8, 50, 3, 16 respectively). Over four measurement points, adherence therapy enhanced positive beliefs towards taking medication and illness, increased medication adherence self-efficacy, improved medication adherence, and decreased depressive symptoms (F = 68.57-379.2, P < 0.001). These improvements were clinically significant in all variables immediately post-AT but declined minimally over time. The study indicated that integrating AT as part of the pre-discharge protocol is one core component to sustaining positive healthcare outcomes. Continuous efforts should be paid in terms of the long-term sustainability of an intervention to enhance adherence and clinical outcomes.