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Concerns about medications mediate the association of posttraumatic stress disorder with adherence to medication in stroke survivors
Author(s) -
Edmondson Donald,
Horowitz Carol R.,
Goldfinger Judith Z.,
Fei Kezhen,
Kronish Ian M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1111/bjhp.12022
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , stroke (engine) , depression (economics) , confidence interval , logistic regression , psychiatry , medication adherence , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives Post‐traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) can be a consequence of acute medical events and has been associated with non‐adherence to medications. We tested whether increased concerns about medications could explain the association between PTSD and non‐adherence to medication in stroke survivors. Design We surveyed 535 participants aged 40 years or older who had at least one stroke or transient ischaemic attack in the previous 5 years. Methods We assessed PTSD using the PTSD checklist‐specific for stroke, medication adherence with the Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire, and beliefs about medications with the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire. We used logistic regression to test whether concerns about medications mediated the association between stroke‐induced PTSD and non‐adherence to medication. Covariates for adjusted analyses included age, sex, race, comorbid medical conditions, stroke‐related disability, years since last stroke/ TIA , and depression. Results Symptoms of PTSD were correlated with greater concerns about medications ( r = 0.45; p < .001), and both were associated with medication non‐adherence. Adjustment for concerns about medications attenuated the relationship between PTSD and non‐adherence to medication, from an odds ratio [ OR ] of 1.04 (95% confidence interval [ CI ], 1.01–1.06; OR , 1.63 per 1 SD ) to an OR of 1.02 (95% CI , 1.00–1.05; OR , 1.32 per 1 SD ), and increased concerns about medications remained associated with increased odds of non‐adherence to medication ( OR , 1.17; 95% CI , 1.10–1.25; OR , 1.72 per 1 SD ) in this fully adjusted model. A bootstrap mediation test suggested that the indirect effect was statistically significant and explained 38% of the association of PTSD to medication non‐adherence, and the direct effect of PTSD symptoms on medication non‐adherence was no longer significant. Conclusion Increased concerns about medications explain a significant proportion of the association between PTSD symptoms and non‐adherence to medication in stroke survivors. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is common after cardiovascular events, including stroke and transient ischemic attack. PTSD due to non‐stroke cardiovascular events is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease recurrence and mortality. PTSD due to stroke is associated with increased risk for medication nonadherence in stroke survivors. What does this study add? While PTSD has been associated with medication nonadherence in stroke survivors and acute coronary syndrome survivors, no mechanism for that association has been tested. This is the first study to provide evidence for a mediator of the PTSD ‐nonadherence association, increased concerns about medications, and point to potential interventions to improve adherence in stroke survivors.