تلخیص
Objective: To find out the frequency of compliance of patients using anti-depressants prescribed at out-patient
department.
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the out-patient department of Institute of Psychiatry,
Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindifrom September 10, 2010 till May 10, 2011.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients aged 18 years and above, With moderate
depressive illness, awe to understand and speak Urdu, taking treatment for at least 4 weeks and belonging to
both genders were recruited from out-patient department using consecutive (non-probability) sampling
technique. Patients having severe depressive illness with psychotic features and severe agitation were
excluded. Antidepressant Compliance Questionnaire was translated and validated through a pilot study and
then the Urdu translation was ordly administered to each participant for the assessment of compliance with
antidepressant medication.
Results: Among the participants 74.1% were compliant and 25.9% were non-compliant with anti-depressant
rnedications.
Conclusion: This studyfound a high degree of patient compliance with anti-depressants. The results would help
in early recognition of non-compliant patients, so that necessary changes could be made in the treatment plan to
ensure better.