Promoting adherence to psychopharmacological treatment among prisoners with mental health problems: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Alexander Muela; Jone Aliri; Nekane Balluerka; Barbara Presa; Ane Eguren

doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101668

Promoting adherence to psychopharmacological treatment among prisoners with mental health problems: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Int J Law Psychiatry. 2021 Jan-Feb:74:101668. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101668. Epub 2020 Dec 14.

Authors

Alexander Muela¹, Jone Aliri², Nekane Balluerka³, Barbara Presa⁴, Ane Eguren⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Electronic address: alexander.muela@ehu.eus.
² University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Electronic address: jone.aliri@ehu.eus.
³ University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Electronic address: nekane.balluerka@ehu.eus.
⁴ University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Electronic address: barbara.presa@ehu.eus.
⁵ University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Avenida de Tolosa, 70, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain. Electronic address: egurenane@gmail.com.

PMID: 33333430
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101668

Abstract

This study presents follow-up results regarding a treatment adherence programme (TAP) for prisoners, the initial effectiveness of which we previously evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Here we used an experimental design with two randomized groups and assessment at four time points: baseline (pre-intervention), at 3 months (post-intervention), and at 6 and 9 months after baseline. Participants were 151 prisoners with mental health problems (M_age = 41.85, SD = 10.31) who were randomly assigned to either the TAP or treatment as usual (TAU). Prisoners who completed the TAP showed a greater improvement in treatment adherence at 3 and 9 months, compared with those who received TAU. There were no significant differences between the groups in subjective well-being under medication. The availability of an easy-to-apply, universal programme that is able to promote treatment adherence in the prison context could make a positive contribution to the general health of inmates.

Keywords: Prisoners with mental health problems; Randomized controlled trial; Subjective well-being; Treatment adherence.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Mental Health*
Prisoners*
Prisons