6 Practical Strategies to Enhance Treatment Adherence

March 29, 2018

Shahana Ayub, MD

Make the most of brief psychotherapeutic sessions with these practical tips.

Psychotropic medication non-adherence is ubiquitous and costly in nature. Here are practical and targeted treatment tips to keep in mind in briefer sessions with patients.

1. Assume that taking the medication will be a challenge

2. Conceptualize specific difficulties that a patient may have when taking medication

3. Emphasize both benefits and adverse effects to promote desired behaviors

4. Remember the power of written information: education is critical

5. Use behavioral techniques to ensure habit formation

6. Restructure interfering beliefs about medication

For more on this topic, see Psychotherapeutic Strategies to Enhance Medication Adherence on which this slideshow is based.