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Factors predicting treatment adherence in patients with adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary study

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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

Abstract

This study aimed to elicit patient- and treatment-related factors that can potentially predict treatment adherence in adult ADHD. Subjects who were over 18 and received a diagnosis of ADHD were included in the study. Chart review data of 102 subjects regarding demographics, medications, comorbidities, concomitant medications and domains of functional impairment were collected, and predictors were assessed using a binominal logistical regression model. One hundred and two patients (78.4 % male) with a mean age of 28.8 (SD = 9.8, range = 18–55) years were enrolled in the study. Childhood diagnosis of ADHD, agents used for treatment (MPH or atomoxetine), individual domains of dysfunction and use of additional psychotropic drugs were not found to be related to treatment adherence. Patients with a university education and those referred for family history of ADHD were more likely to adhere to treatment (p = 0.05 and 0.03, respectively). On the other hand, reasons for referral other than ADHD were significantly more frequently related to non-adherence (p = 0.02). Treatment noncompliance remains a significant problem despite therapeutic effects of medications. Identification of predictors of non-adherence can lead to heightened awareness of special populations at risk. We have found that prior awareness on ADHD (via past history/media/friends) leading to self/clinician referral to rule out ADHD and pervasiveness of symptoms across functional domains led to better compliance in our sample. Future research with prospective design utilizing objective tools for adherence is required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bengi Semerci Enstitusu, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bengi Semerci & Işın Şanlı

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Koç University School of Medicine, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Sarıyer, 34550, Istanbul, Turkey

    Sarper Taskıran

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

    Evren Tufan

Authors
  1. Bengi Semerci
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  2. Sarper Taskıran
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  3. Evren Tufan
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  4. Işın Şanlı
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Correspondence to Sarper Taskıran.

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The authors have no financial affiliations to disclose.

Additional information

A part of the data was disclosed previously at the 4th Congress of UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) Congress, London, UK, September 9–12, 2014.

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Semerci, B., Taskıran, S., Tufan, E. et al. Factors predicting treatment adherence in patients with adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary study. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 8, 139–147 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-016-0194-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-016-0194-5

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