Treatment adherence in bipolar I and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type

Abstract Background Poor adherence rates in Bipolar Disorder type I (BDI) and Schizoaffective Disorder, bipolar type (SAD) may be high This study was aimed at comparing the clinical correlates of adherence to treatment and the course of illness in BDI and SAD patients. Methods 75 SAD and 150 BDI DSM-IV outpatients were included. Adherence was assessed on the basis of patients’ and care-givers’ reports and serum levels, when available. Socio-demographic, clinical and treatment variables were collected and compared between diagnostic subsamples and then between goodly and poorly adherent patients. Multiple logistic regressions were performed, controlling for diagnostic subsample differences, to identify correlates of adherence in BDI and SAD groups. Results Poor adherence was highly prevalent both in BDI (32%) and in SAD patients (44%), with no significant differences between diagnostic categories. Presence of psychotic symptoms ( p =0.029), higher number of manic relapses ( p