The Article in Brief

Most antidepression medications are recommended for an extended period of treatment, so that the depression symptoms do not return. Even so, between 30% and 83% of patients stop taking their antidepression medications before the recommended time. Patients vary widely in whether they take antidepressants for the recommended interval. In a survey of 81 patients, researchers found that patients who believed more strongly that they needed the medication, compared with their concerns about taking it, were more likely to take the drug as prescribed. Those whose concerns about taking the medication were stronger than their perceptions that they needed the drug were less likely to take the drug for the full time. Tailoring treatment by taking these beliefs into account may help patients gain the most benefit from antidepressant therapy.