Sociocultural determinants of treatment adherence in bipolar disorders: a review of recent trends

ABSTRACT

Non-adherence to medication or treatment is one of the greatest challenges in psychiatry, especially among persons with bipolar disorders. Non-adherence is multi-factorial. Studying sociocultural factors as determinants of non-adherence is a neglected area. The current study has reviewed studies related to the sociocultural factors of non-adherence. The study revealed that sociodemographic, familial, religious, social support, stigma and healthcare system-related factors play a major role in determining non-adherence. Planning specific interventions based on sociocultural factors would help in reducing non-adherence rate among persons with bipolar affective disorder. This study gives a new direction for further research into the sociocultural factors of non-adherence, with greater scope for qualitative studies.

KEYWORDS:

• adherence
• non-adherence
• compliance
• sociocultural
• bipolar

Notes on contributors

G. Ragesh (MSW, M.Phil), Ph.D Scholar, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.

Ameer Hamza (M.Phil, Ph.D), Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.

Santosh K. Chaturvedi (MD, FRCPsych), Dean of Behavioural Sciences, Head of Department of Mental Health Education and Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.