Adherence to antidepressant therapy and mortality rates in ischaemic heart disease: cohort study

Anxiety in cirrhosis: a prospective study on prevalence and development of a practical screening nomogram

OBJECTIVES

The prevalence and effects of anxiety on health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes in cirrhosis are not well understood. This is increasingly relevant during COVID-19. Our aim was to use the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to determine the prevalence of anxiety, its association with clinical outcomes in cirrhosis and to develop a rapid cirrhosis-specific anxiety screening nomogram.

METHODS

Adults with a diagnosis of cirrhosis were prospectively recruited as outpatients at three tertiary care hospitals across Alberta and followed for up to 6 months to determine the association with unplanned hospitalization/death. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) was used as a screening tool as it is free of influence from somatic symptoms. Anxiety was diagnosed using the MINI.

RESULTS

Of 304 patients, 17% of patients had anxiety by the MINI and 32% by the HADS. Anxious patients had lower health-related quality of life as assessed by the chronic liver disease questionnaire (P < 0.001) and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (P < 0.001), and also had higher levels of frailty using the Clinical Frailty score (P = 0.004). Multivariable analysis revealed smoking and three HADS subcomponents as independent predictors of anxiety. These were used to develop a rapid screening nomogram.

CONCLUSION

A formal diagnosis of anxiety was made in approximately one in five patients with cirrhosis, and it was associated with worse HrQoL and frailty. The use of a 4-question nonsomatic symptom-based nomogram requires validation but is promising as a rapid screen for anxiety in cirrhosis.

Examining the Use of Antidepressants for Adolescents with Depression/Anxiety Who Regularly Use Cannabis: A Narrative Review

Depression and anxiety disorders are two of the most common and growing mental health concerns in adolescents. Consequently, antidepressant medication (AD) use has increased widely during the last decades. Several classes of antidepressants are used mainly to treat depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders by targeting relevant brain neurochemical pathways. Almost all randomized clinical trials of antidepressants examined patients with no concomitant medications or drugs. This does not address the expected course of therapy and outcome in cannabis users. Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance globally. Substantial changes in its regulation are recently taking place. Many countries and US states are becoming more permissive towards its medical and recreational use. The psychological and physiological effects of cannabis (mainly of its major components, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)) have been extensively characterized. Cannabis use can be a risk factor for depressive and anxiety symptoms, but some constituents or mixtures may have antidepressant and/or anxiolytic potential. The aim of this literature review is to explore whether simultaneous use of AD and cannabis in adolescence can affect AD treatment outcomes. Based on the current literature, it is reasonable to assume that antidepressants are less effective for adolescents with depression/anxiety who frequently use cannabis. The mechanisms of action of antidepressants and cannabis point to several similarities and conjunctions that merit future investigation regarding the potential effectiveness of antidepressants among adolescents who consume cannabis regularly.

Cognitive behavioral intervention for improving emotion recognition among individuals with substance use disorders: A randomized-controlled pilot study in a naturalistic setting

Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) experience impaired facial emotion recognition. This pilot study explored the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention to improve facial cues interpretation. Twenty-four men with SUD were randomized into an equal-size experimental and control groups and were evaluated by a cognitive-assessment battery at baseline and post-intervention. Post-intervention individuals in the experimental group recognized happy expressions with higher accuracy, and their response times were slower in sadness/disgust/neutral expressions. Interventions focused at improving social cues interpretation may facilitate social interactions and treatment outcomes for SUD population.

Prevalence and predictors of medication non-adherence among people living with multimorbidity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to describe medication non-adherence among people living with multimorbidity according to the current literature, and synthesise predictors of non-adherence in this population.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for relevant articles published in English language between January 2009 and April 2019. Quantitative studies reporting medication non-adherence and/or predictors of non-adherence among people with two or more chronic conditions were included in the review. A meta-analysis was conducted with a subgroup of studies that used an inclusive definition of multimorbidity to recruit participants, rather than seeking people with specific conditions. Remaining studies reporting prevalence and predictors of non-adherence were narratively synthesised.

RESULTS

The database search produced 10 998 records and a further 75 were identified through other sources. Following full-text screening, 178 studies were included in the review. The range of reported non-adherence differed by measurement method, at 76.5% for self-report, 69.4% for pharmacy data, and 44.1% for electronic monitoring. A meta-analysis was conducted with eight studies (n=8949) that used an inclusive definition of multimorbidity to recruit participants. The pooled prevalence of non-adherence was 42.6% (95% CI: 34.0 - 51.3%, k=8, I²=97%, p<0.01). The overall range of non-adherence was 7.0%-83.5%. Frequently reported correlates of non-adherence included previous non-adherence and treatment-related beliefs.

CONCLUSIONS

The review identified a heterogeneous literature in terms of conditions studied, and definitions and measures of non-adherence used. Results suggest that future attempts to improve adherence among people with multimorbidity should determine for which conditions individuals require most support. The variable levels of medication non-adherence highlight the need for more attention to be paid by healthcare providers to the impact of multimorbidity on chronic disease self-management.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019133849.

Association between Adherence to SSRI Treatment and Mortality among Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome Components

INTRODUCTION

Depression and anxiety have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effect of antidepressants in this association is unknown. This study aimed to examine the association between adherence to selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) and all-cause mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome components (hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus).

METHODS

Data on 201 777 patients who were prescribed SSRIs during the years 2008-2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Adherence was measured using prescription purchase records. The moderating effect of SSRI and statin adherence on the association between metabolic syndrome load and mortality hazard risk (HR) during the study period were analyzed. The Cox-proportional hazard model adjusted to background variables was used to this end.

RESULTS

During the study period, the maximal metabolic load was associated with mortality HR=1.89 (95% CI: 1.79-2) compared to participants without metabolic risk factors. A slight reduction in mortality HR was demonstrated among those with low and moderate SSRI adherence rates. Adherence to statins was negatively associated with the risk of mortality across all levels of adherence. A significant association (r=0.214, p<0.01) was found between adherence to statins and adherence to SSRIs, with higher rates of adherence to statins across all metabolic load categories.

DISCUSSION

While a high metabolic load is associated with a higher risk of mortality, adherence to SSRIs only partially moderated the risk of mortality, in contrast to the protective effect of statins. Adherence differences to statins and SSRIs among individuals prescribed both medications merit further investigation.

Adherence to antidepressant medications is associated with reduced premature mortality in patients with cancer: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are common in cancer and antidepressants (AD) are efficacious treatment. The relationship between AD adherence and mortality in cancer is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to AD and all-cause mortality in a population-based cohort of patients with cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a 4-year historical prospective cohort study including 42,075 patients with cancer who purchased AD at least once during the study period. Adherence to AD was modeled as nonadherence (<20%), poor (20-50%), moderate (50-80%), and good (>80%) adherence. We conducted multivariable survival analyses adjusted for demographic and clinical variables that may affect mortality.

RESULTS

During 1,051,489 person-years at risk follow-up, the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for mortality were 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-0.95), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.66-0.72), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-0.85) for the poor, moderate, and good adherence groups, respectively, compared to the nonadherent group. Analysis of the entire sample and a subgroup with depression, for cancer subtypes, revealed similar patterns for breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers, but not for melanoma patients. Multivariate predictors of premature mortality included male gender (HR 1.48 [95% CI: 1.42-1.55]), current/past smoking status (HR 1.1, [95% CI: 1.04-1.15]; P < .0001), low socioeconomic status (HR 1.1, [95% CI: 1.03-1.17]; P < .0001) and more physical comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study is the first to demonstrate that higher adherence to AD is associated with a decrease of all-cause mortality in a large nationwide cohort of cancer patients. Our data add to the pressing need to encourage adherence to AD among cancer patients.

Pharmacist-led medication non-adherence intervention: reducing the economic burden placed on the Australian health care system

Background: Scarcity of prospective medication non-adherence cost measurements for the Australian population with no directly measured estimates makes determining the burden medication non-adherence places on the Australian health care system difficult. This study aims to indirectly estimate the national cost of medication non-adherence in Australia comparing the cost prior to and following a community pharmacy-led intervention. Methods: Retrospective observational study. A de-identified database of dispensing data from 20,335 patients (n=11,257 on rosuvastatin, n=6,797 on irbesartan and n=2,281 on desvenlafaxine) was analyzed and average adherence rate determined through calculation of PDC. Included patients received a pharmacist-led medication adherence intervention and had twelve months dispensing records; six months before and six months after the intervention. The national cost estimate of medication non-adherence in hypertension, dyslipidemia and depression pre- and post-intervention was determined through utilization of disease prevalence and comorbidity, non-adherence rates and per patient disease-specific adherence-related costs. Results: The total national cost of medication non-adherence across three prevalent conditions, hypertension, dyslipidemia and depression was $10.4 billion equating to $517 per adult. Following enrollment in the pharmacist-led intervention medication non-adherence costs per adult decreased $95 saving the Australian health care system and patients $1.9 billion annually. Conclusion: In the absence of a directly measured national cost of medication non-adherence, this estimate demonstrates that pharmacists are ideally placed to improve patient adherence and reduce financial burden placed on the health care system due to non-adherence. Funding of medication adherence programs should be considered by policy and decision makers to ease the current burden and improve patient health outcomes moving forward.

Adherence to Antidepressants and Mortality in Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Conflicting findings from studies evaluating the association between use of antidepressant drugs and mortality have been reported. We tested the hypothesis that better adherence to antidepressant therapy may reduce mortality.

METHODS

The cohort included 29,845 individuals aged ≥ 65 years from several Italian health units who were newly treated with antidepressant drugs after hospital discharge with a diagnosis for cardiovascular disease during 2008-2010. These individuals were observed from the first prescription until the end of data availability (i.e. 2012-2014, depending on the local database). During this period, information on (1) prescription of antidepressants and other medications and (2) death from any cause (outcome) was recorded. Proportional hazards models were fitted to estimate the association between better adherence to antidepressants (defined as proportion of days covered ≥ 75%) and outcome, by adjusting and stratifying for several covariates.

RESULTS

Patients with better adherence to antidepressants had a reduced mortality of 9% (95% CI 3-14). Patients who did not use other medicaments during follow-up had reduced mortality associated with better adherence to antidepressants of 21% (- 1-38), 14% (7-20), 20% (13-26) and 13% (7-19) for no users of antihypertensive agents, lipid-lowering agents, other cardiovascular drugs and antidiabetics, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Better adherence to antidepressants is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, mainly in patients who did not use other pharmacological treatments. Behavioural changes to enhance adherence among the elderly with cardiovascular disease might offer important benefits in reducing their mortality.

Adherence to Depression Treatment in Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Nonadherence to antidepressant medication is common and leads to poor outcomes. Early nonadherence is especially problematic.

Objective

To test the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention to improve early adherence among older patients whose primary care physician newly initiated an antidepressant for depression.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program (TIP) was offered in a 2-site randomized clinical effectiveness study between January 2011 and December 2014 at primary care practices in New York, New York, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Analyses began in February 2016. All participants were middle-aged and older adults (aged ≥55 years) who received newly initiated depression treatment by their primary care physician and recruited within 10 days of their prescription. Analyses were intention-to-treat.

Interventions

Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (TIP) or treatment as usual. Participants in the TIP group identified and addressed barriers to adherence, including stigma, misconceptions, and fears about treatment, before developing a personalized adherence strategy. The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program was delivered in three 30-minute contacts scheduled during a 6-week period just after the antidepressant was prescribed.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was self-reported adherence on the Brief Medication Questionnaire, with adequate early adherence defined as taking 80% or more of the prescribed doses at 6 and 12 weeks. The secondary outcome was depression severity.

Results

In total, 231 middle-aged and older adults (167 women [72.3%] and 64 men [27.7%]) without significant cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to the TIP intervention (n = 115) or treatment as usual (n = 116). Participants had a mean (SD) age of 67.3 (8.4) years. Participants in the TIP group were 5 times more likely to be adherent at 6 weeks (odds ratio, 5.54; 95% CI, 2.57 to 11.96; χ21 = 19.05; P < .001) and 3 times more likely to be adherent at both 6 and 12 weeks (odds ratio, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.73 to 6.17; χ21 = 13.34; P < .001). Participants in the TIP group showed a significant earlier reduction (24.9%) in depressive symptoms (95% CI, 13.9 to 35.9; t337 = 4.46; adjusted P < .001). In both groups, participants who were 80% adherent at weeks 6 and 12 had a 15% greater improvement in depressive symptoms from baseline over the course of treatment (95% CI, -0.2 to -30; t369 = 1.93; P = .051).

Conclusions and Relevance

The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program is an effective intervention to improve early adherence to pharmacotherapy. Improved adherence can promote improvement in depression.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01301859.

Low adherence to antidepressants is associated with increased mortality following stroke: A large nationally representative cohort study

Post stroke depression is common and pervasive. In the general population, there has been some controversy that antidepressant (AD) medication is associated with premature mortality. Data is still lacking regarding the association between adherence to antidepressants (AD) and all-cause mortality. In this retrospective analysis of a population-based cohort of patients, 32,361 post-stroke patients who purchased at least one AD were followed for all-cause mortality over 4-years. Adherence to AD was measured as a ratio between dispensed and prescribed durations and was modeled as: non-adherence (<20%, n=8619), poor (20-50%, n=5108), moderate (50-80%, n=5656), and good (>80%, n=12,978) adherence. Multivariable survival analyses, adjusted for demographic and clinical variables including physical comorbidities known to influence mortality, were conducted. Unadjusted mortality rates were 16.5%, 20.2%, 22.2% and 23.7% in those classified as non-adherent, poor, moderate and good adherence respectively (χ²=174.6, p<0.0001). In the adjusted model, the non-adherent and poor adherence groups had significantly increased mortality Hazard Ratios (HR) of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.17-1.33) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.09-1.26) respectively compared to the good adherence group. This nationally representative data suggests that poor adherence to AD is associated with increased all-cause mortality among people who had a stroke. Given our findings and the high prevalence of anxiety and depression along with AD effectiveness, efforts to promote AD adherence in this population may be warranted in clinical practice.

Effect of adherence to the first-generation injectable immunomodulatory drugs on disability accumulation in multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between optimal adherence to the first-generation injectable immunomodulatory drugs (IMDs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) and subsequent disability accumulation.

METHODS

We accessed prospectively collected linked clinical and administrative health data from British Columbia, Canada. Subjects with MS treated with a first-generation injectable IMD at an MS clinic (1996-2004) were followed until their last clinic visit before 2009. Adherence was estimated using the proportion of days covered (PDC). The primary outcome was disability accumulation, defined as an increase in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score as recorded during each year of follow-up. Generalised estimating equation models, adjusted for baseline sex, age, EDSS and time between scores, were used to measure associations between optimal adherence (≥80% PDC) during the first year of treatment and subsequent disability accumulation. The relationship between early IMD adherence and the secondary outcome, time to sustained EDSS 6, was examined using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Among 801 subjects, 598 (74.7%) had optimal adherence over the first year of IMD treatment and 487 (39.0%) demonstrated one or more instances of disability accumulation. Early optimal adherence was not associated with disability accumulation (adjusted OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.15), nor with time to sustained EDSS 6 (adjusted HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.44).

CONCLUSION

Almost three-quarters of subjects with MS had optimal early adherence to their first-line injectable IMD. There was no evidence that this was associated with disability accumulation in the following years.

With a little help from my friends?: racial and gender differences in the role of social support in later-life depression medication adherence

BACKGROUND

Social support has been shown to be an important factor in improving depression symptom outcomes, yet less is known regarding its impact on antidepressant medication adherence. This study sought to evaluate the role of perceived social support on adherence to new antidepressant medication prescriptions in later-life depression.

METHODS

Data from two prospective observational studies of participants ≥60 years old, diagnosed with depression, and recently prescribed a new antidepressant (N = 452). Perceived social support was measured using a subscale of the Duke Social Support Index and medication adherence was assessed using a validated self-report measure.

RESULTS

At four-month follow up, 68% of patients reported that they were adherent to antidepressant medication. Examining the overall sample, logistic regression analysis demonstrated no significant relationship between perceived social support and medication adherence. However, when stratifying the sample by social support, race, and gender, adherence significantly differed by race and gender in those with inadequate social support: Among those with low social support, African-American females were significantly less likely to adhere to depression treatment than white females (OR = 4.82, 95% CI = 1.14-20.28, p = 0.032) and white males (OR = 3.50, 95% CI = 1.03-11.92, p = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant difference in antidepressant medication adherence by race and gender in those with inadequate social support. Tailored treatment interventions for low social support should be sensitive to racial and gender differences.

Depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with coronary heart disease

The analytical paper summarized the results of recent studies of an association of depression, anxiety, and stress with coronary heart disease (CHD). Mental disorders are shown to be associated with increased risk of CHD and to worsen the course of coronary disease. Antidepressants and psychotherapy improve the control of mental disorders, quality of life, and, in some cases, have a positive impact on the course of coronary disease.

Low adherence to antidepressants is associated with increased mortality in Parkinson disease patients

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between adherence to antidepressants (AD) and all-cause mortality in a population-based cohort of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD).

METHODS

From a database of more than 4 million people, 8553 patients with PD who purchased an AD at least once between the years 2008-2011 were retrospectively followed for all-cause mortality over 4-years. Adherence was measured as a ratio between dispensed and prescribed durations and was modeled as: non-adherence (<20%, n = 1566), poor (20%-50%, n = 1184), moderate (50%-80%, n = 1584), and good (>80%, n = 4219) adherence. Multivariable survival analyses adjusted for demographic and clinical variables including physical comorbidities known to influence mortality were conducted, however there was no adjustment for other psychiatric disorders and medications.

RESULTS

Unadjusted mortality rates were 20.4%, 25.1%, 23.4% and 25.6% in those classified as non-adherent, poor, moderate and good adherence respectively (χ2 = 18.45, p < 0.0001). The non-adherent and poor adherence groups had significantly increased adjusted mortality hazard ratios (HR) of 1.43 (CI: 1.26-1.62) and 1.26 (CI: 1.1-1.44) respectively compared to the good adherence group. Using the same model, the adjusted HR for death among males was 1.49 [95% CI: 1.36-1.62] compared to females. People with PD and Charslon's Comorbidity Index score of 3-4 (HR 1.3, P < 0.001) and 5+ (HR 1.78, P < 0.001) were more likely to die than those with 0-2 comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that poor adherence to AD is associated with increased all-cause mortality in people with PD. Given the high prevalence of depression and AD effectiveness, efforts to promote adherence should be prioritized in clinical practice.

Pathogenesis of depression- and anxiety-like behavior in an animal model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Cardiovascular dysfunction is highly comorbid with mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression. However, the mechanisms linking cardiovascular dysfunction with the core behavioral features of mood disorder remain poorly understood. In this study, we used mice bearing a knock-in sarcomeric mutation, which is exhibited in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), to investigate the influence of HCM over the development of anxiety and depression. We employed behavioral, MRI, and biochemical techniques in young (3-4 mo) and aged adult (7-8 mo) female mice to examine the effects of HCM on the development of anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. We focused on females because in both humans and rodents, they experience a 2-fold increase in mood disorder prevalence vs. males. Our results showed that young and aged HCM mice displayed echocardiographic characteristics of the heart disease condition, yet only aged HCM females displayed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. Electrocardiographic parameters of sympathetic nervous system activation were increased in aged HCM females vs. controls and correlated with mood disorder-related symptoms. In addition, when compared with controls, aged HCM females exhibited adrenal gland hypertrophy, reduced volume in mood-related brain regions, and reduced hippocampal signaling proteins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its downstream targets vs. controls. In conclusion, prolonged systemic HCM stress can lead to development of mood disorders, possibly through inducing structural and functional brain changes, and thus, mood disorders in patients with heart disease should not be considered solely a psychologic or situational condition.-Dossat, A. M., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. A., Koutnik, A. P., Leitner, S., Ruiz, E. L., Griffin, B., Rosenberg, J. T., Grant, S. C., Fincham, F. D., Pinto, J. R. Kabbaj, M. Pathogenesis of depression- and anxiety-like behavior in an animal model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Physical illness in those with mental illness: psychiatric services need to change focus

Those with mental illness die prematurely. One reason may be that psychiatrists are overly concerned with risk, focusing too much on this aspect of practice and neglecting the physical health needs of our patients. We need to reconsider how we approach our patients and their needs.

Management of depression after myocardial infarction

Depression in patients who have had a myocardial infarction is an important clinical problem because it is extremely common and because the comorbidity complicates depression treatment and worsens the cardiovascular prognosis. Studies of psychotherapy, exercise, pharmacotherapy, and collaborative care demonstrate that effective treatment of depression is possible but the strength of the effects seen in most studies is low, and cardiovascular and all-cause morbidity and mortality benefits have not been proven. Recent collaborative care studies have had promising outcomes. For pharmacotherapy, side effects, including bleeding and arrhythmia risks, require special attention. Recovery from depression is associated with better long-term cardiovascular prognosis, while treatment per se is not.

The impact of age and gender on adherence to antidepressants: a 4-year population-based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Impaired adherence is common among patients using antidepressant drugs (ADs). However, few studies investigated the role of age and gender in adherence to AD and finding conflict.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine how gender and age impact adherence to AD in a large-scale cohort.

METHODS

We conducted a historical cohort study (N = 310,994 individuals) that claimed AD prescriptions during a 4-year period. Adherence was defined as the ratio between the duration of claimed AD prescriptions and the duration of continuously prescribed AD.

RESULTS

Substantial differences in the mean adherence to AD were noted throughout the lifespan, ranging from 0.38 (first decade) to 0.63 (tenth decade). Average adherence was significantly higher for males aged 20-40 years than for females of that age, but this relationship reversed later in life (50-70 years). A regression analysis model of adherence as the dependent variable showed a significant interaction between age and gender variables (beta = 0.001, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the effect of age and gender, and their interaction, on adherence to AD across the entire life span. The marked age- and modest, yet significant, gender-related effects should be taken into consideration when targeting impaired adherence to these commonly prescribed medications.