Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Antidepressant Adherence Scale (AAS) in the Context of an Interventional Psychoeducational Study

Date
2015-12-29
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ScieMedCentral Annals of Pyschiatry and Mental Health
Abstract
Abstract Objectives: The main two objectives of the study are to assess the efficacy of a systematic patient-centered psychoeducation on adherence to antidepressants, and to examine the psychometric properties of the Antidepressant Adherence Scale (AAS), with emphasis on predictive validity. Method: 70 consenting patients with confirmed diagnosis of major depression were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 40) who received systematic psychoeducation for depression, and to a standard care group (n = 30) who received standard care. The intervention group received systematic education consisting of (1) Reading material, “depression manual”, (2) Individual or groups educational sessions. The primary clinical outcome measures included the Antidepressant Adherence Scale. Other instruments used to monitor clinical outcomes included; the Clinician and Self Rated Quick Inventories of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-C and QIDS-SR). Results: Forgetfulness was the commonest omission reported followed by carelessness, stopping when feeling better, and stopping when feeling worse. The total number of omissions in the four AAS domains were less among the intervention group (p < .001) than in the standard care group, at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks there was significant (p< .01) reduction in the QIDS-CR and the QIDS-SR scores in both the intervention and standard care group. However the intervention patients were less symptomatic than the standard care group. The total omission scores correlated with the severity scores of QIDS-SR and QIDSCR among the intervention group. Conclusion: There was an evidence for predictive and construct validity of the AAS, and the systematic education may lead to improved adherence to antidepressants and reduction in clinical symptoms of depression.
Description
Keywords
Adherence, Antidepressants, Measures, Reliability, Validity
Citation
Gabriel, A. (2015). Examining the psychometric properties of the Antidepressant Adherence Scale (AAS) in the context of an interventional psychoeducational study. Annals of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 4(1), 1055.