The effect of supportive text message on the adherence to medication in depression: An experimental study

Lack of adherence to prescribed medication is a main concern in medicine especially in chronic diseases. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of supportive text message on the adherence to treatment of depression.
Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on sixty eligible patients with diagnosis of depression who referred to a psychiatry clinic in Shahrekord. The patients were allocated to supportive text message and control groups. The patients in both groups were treated with the same antidepressants; however, the patients in supportive text message group additionally received daily text messages for six weeks. The adherence to medication was assessed by a researcher-made questionnaire and the severity of depression was assessed by Beck depression inventory.
Immediately after intervention, average score of depression showed a significant improvement in both groups (P Daily supportive text message in this study could not improve antidepressant adherence and depressive symptoms in patients with major depression.