Use and Results of Antidepressant Treatment: Patients' Perception

AIMS AND METHOD: Response to antidepressants depends on patients' use. Our objective is to take a look over antidepressants use in a real sample. In determining relevant factors, data were gathered from 550 patients, currently taking antidepressants. The questionnaire included two items, patients' perceived difficulty of following treatment and level of acknowledged non-compliance, which may be considered as a way of approximating the patients' real use of treatment. RESULTS: compliance was poor among the less educated, living in rural areas and receiving concomitant treatment. Use perceived as good in 61.5%, better in affective disorder (69.8%). Patients without response present higher incidence of non-compliance (49.1%). It should be mandatory to explore and reinforce a good use of antidepressants in clinical settings, particularly if the indication is not an affective disorder and in case of multiple treatments, rural setting, and lower educational level. If response is inadequate, compliance must be revised specially.