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

Background Aim: 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. Results: Immediately after intervention, average score of depression showed a significant improvement in both groups (P 0.001). Moreover, the average score of depression and medication adherence, in two groups (supportive short message and control group) had no significant differences (16.76 ± 4.70 and 63.3% Vs 19.83 ± 7.39 and 53.3%) (P= 0.06 and 0.31). Conclusion: Daily supportive text message in this study could not improve antidepressant adherence and depressive symptoms in patients with major depression.