Adherencia a la medicación psicofarmacológica en adultos con trastornos mentales del Instituto de Neurociencias de Guayaquil, Ecuador. 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Psychopharmacological adherence in patients with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression, among others, is important for improving patients’ quality of life, as well as for helping to prevent relapses. Objective: To determine the prevalence of adherence to psychopharmacological medication among adults undergoing long-term treatment for mental disorders at the Mental Health Center of Ecuador in 2024. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, observational study was conducted with 379 patients with mental disorders treated at the Mental Health Center of Ecuador in 2024. The Morisky-Green scale was applied to measure adherence to psychopharmacological medication. Results: Adherence to psychopharmacological medication in the study population was mostly low (57.5%). The Morisky scale showed adequate reliability and validity. Adherence to psychopharmacological medication was lower among women, as well as in younger individuals. The type of medication did not influence adherence. The number of psychopharmacological drugs taken was also not statistically significant; however, lower adherence was observed as the number of medications increased. Conclusions: The patients studied generally show low adherence to psychopharmacological medication, especially among women and individuals under 40 years of age. Keywords: mental disorders, adherence, psychotropic drugs, Morisky