A Study on Adherence to Medication and Quality of Life Assessment among Patients with Depression and Bipolar Disorder in a Government Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Keywords:
Medication Adherence, Quality Of Life, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, WHOQOL-BREF, Medication Adherence Rating Scale, Psychiatry.Abstract
Background: Medication adherence is a key determinant of successful treatment outcomes in patients with depression and bipolar disorder. Poor adherence is associated with relapse, hospitalization, and impaired quality of life (QoL). This study assessed medication adherence and its association with QoL among patients with depression and bipolar disorder receiving psychiatric care.
Methods: A prospective analytical study was conducted among 100 adult patients (50 with bipolar disorder and 50 with depression) attending the Psychiatry Department of Government Teaching General Hospital, Eluru, between February and May 2026. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), while quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Assessments were performed at baseline and during follow-up visits. Correlation analysis, comparison of means, and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with medication adherence. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05.
Results: Mean QoL scores improved significantly from 56.56±16.42 at baseline to 100.55±13.99 at the seventh week. Medication adherence scores also increased significantly from 6.71±1.86 to 7.51±1.77, with the proportion of adherent participants rising from 70% to 84%. Medication adherence demonstrated a significant positive correlation with QoL throughout follow-up (r=0.493 to 0.637. Adherent participants consistently had significantly higher QoL scores than non-adherent participants. Multivariable logistic regression identified bipolar disorder as an independent predictor of medication adherence (AOR=5.959; 95% CI: 1.390–25.542).
Conclusions: Medication adherence improved significantly during follow-up and was strongly associated with better quality of life. Patients with bipolar disorder demonstrated higher odds of adherence than those with depression. Regular patient education, adherence reinforcement, and structured follow-up may enhance treatment outcomes and quality of life among individuals with severe mental illness.
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