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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Medication adherence by persons with bipolar disorder (BD) is inconsistent. This is disconcerting, as BD is treatment responsive, side-effects are few, and the impact of both hypo/manic and depressive mood episodes can be considerable (e.g., self-harm).
For this study, we computed a path model to identify both direct and indirect predictors of medication adherence. This included both clinical and psychosocial independent variables (e.g., BD symptoms, psychological well-being, alcohol misuse).
From the BADAS (Bipolar Affective Disorder and older Adults) Study, we identified a global sample of adults with the BD. Participants were recruited using microtargeted, Facebook advertising. This sample included persons living in Canada, U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand (M = 55.35 years, SD = 9.65).
Direct predictors included perceived cognitive failures and alcohol misuse. Of note, medication adherence is inversely associated with number of prescribed antipsychotic medications. Neither symptoms of depression nor hypo/mania emerged as direct predictors of medication adherence. Similarly, psychological well-being appears indirectly associated with adherence (via BD symptoms).
Despite the wide age range of participants (22 – 73 years), age did not emerge as a predictor of adherence. Nor do cognitive failures appear significantly associated with age suggesting that both young and older adults with BD perceived cognitive loss.
No significant relationships.
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