Predictors of therapeutic adherence in patients with severe mental illness

Introduction. This study aims to deepen our understanding of therapeutic adherence in patients with severe mental illnesses, a significant issue with public health and economic implications. Worldwide, one in eight individuals is affected by a mental disorder, leading to substantial direct and indirect costs, including extended hospital stays and lost productivity. Non-adherence to medication treatments remains a complex issue influenced by various demographic, socioeconomic, and disease-specific factors. This paper seeks to identify variables contributing to decreased adherence and compare them with existing literature. Method. Conducted from September 2022 to December 2022 at the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia” in Bucharest, Romania, this study involved 177 participants. Data was collected through interviews, patient records, and verified with attending physicians and family members. Exclusions were made for patients not fluent in Romanian or diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorders per DSM-5. Assessments included the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S) for disease severity and the modified Overt Aggression Scale (mOAS) for aggress