A new study from the researchers of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and the University of East Anglia (UEA) has found that nearly 50% of people with bipolar disorder do not take their medicines as advised by their doctors.
The study, published Tuesday in the journal Psychological Medicine, revealed six key factors responsible for stopping people with bipolar disorder from taking their medication.
Some of those factors include fear of side effects, fear of addiction, preference for alternative treatment, difficulties in remembering to take the dose, and a lack of support from family, friends, and even medical professionals.
Lead researcher Asta Ratna Prajapati said, “Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs, known as mania or hypomania, and depressive lows.
“Around half of people with bipolar disorder don’t take their medication which can lead to a relapse of symptoms,” he added, “and this can have a knock-on impact with problems at work, strained relationships with family and friends, hospitalization, and an increased risk of suicide.”
“We wanted to better understand what stops people from taking their medication,” said Prajapati, who is a consultant pharmacist at NSFT and a post-graduate researcher at UEA’s School of Pharmacy, UK.
The researchers analyzed 57 studies that involved more than 30,000 patients and healthcare professionals. They also looked at the factors affecting people’s compliance with their bipolar disorder medication.
“We found six key factors that affect whether people take their medication,” Prajapati said. “The main reason being what the medication is like, whether there are side effects, and whether it works.”
“Secondly, we found that a patient’s beliefs and knowledge about bipolar disorder and its treatment could stop them from taking medication,” he added. “We also found that how patients felt taking their medication had an impact—for example, a fear of addiction or worry about negative side effects.”
The consultant pharmacist revealed, “Other factors included a lack of support, difficulty remembering taking medication and not wanting to take it for reasons including preferring alternative treatment.”
“We recommend that the prescribers talk to patients about their thoughts and experiences of the medications they take,” he added, “paying particular attention to these issues which may stop patients taking their meds.”
People with bipolar disorder who do not take their medication as recommended are prone to relapse and hospitalization. Also, those who are not compliant with their treatment are at increased risk of suicide. The article was published on Medical Xpress.
