S. Hack et B. Chow, Pediatric psychotropic medication compliance: A literature review and research-based suggestions for improving treatment compliance, J CH AD PSY, 11(1), 2001, pp. 59-67
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
Without good compliance the best psychiatric treatment is ineffective. This
article reviews what is known or can be inferred about compliance with psy
chiatric medications in the pediatric population. The review includes discu
ssions of assessment techniques, risk and protective factors, the relevant
research literature, and research-based practical techniques to improve com
pliance. A Medline search surveying the years from 1966 to August 2000 yiel
ded only seven peer-reviewed papers reporting on compliance with pediatric
psychopharmacology. All seven studies looked at stimulant compliance among
children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Reported levels of
compliance range from 56% to 75%. These rates, although low, are likely to
be overestimates of actual compliance. We review two related areas of resea
rch for which there are small but significant bodies of knowledge: pharmaco
logical compliance studies among adult psychiatric populations and pediatri
c medical populations. This literature supports the idea that medication co
mpliance is a significant obstacle to the effective treatment of patients.
Because compliance rates are lower for children as compared to adults and p
sychiatric patients as compared to medical patients, we suspect that childr
en with psychiatric illness may be at great risk for poor medication compli
ance. Fortunately, the research literature demonstrates several simple tech
niques that clinicians can use to improve medication compliance among their
patients. The treatment alliance; education; and medication duration, dosi
ng, palatability, and cost can all be tailored to improve medication compli
ance.