The Smart-Phone Application Follow-up System for Medication Compliance in Patients with Depression

Objective: To evaluate the influence of a Smart-Phone Application (APP) Follow-up System (SPAFS) on medication compliance in patients treated for depression. Methods: Subjects aged 16-65 years old with depressive disorder, who regularly took antidepressant medications for at least one month were recruited from the Peking University Sixth Hospital and Beijing Hui Long Guan Hospital from July 1st, 2014, to April 30th, 2015. Two groups of patients were evaluated: SPAFS group (were willing to be online anytime, who received APP) and control group (agreed to adhere to traditional psychological clinical follow-up procedures). Results: One hundred and twenty-one patients were investigated, 57 in the SPAFS group (intervention group) and 64 in the control group. At the end of the 6-month follow-up, 17 patients in the control group and 4 patients in the intervention group discontinued their medication; there was a statistically significant difference (P