Concerns about medications mediate the association of posttraumatic stress disorder with adherence to medication in stroke survivors.

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. PMID: 23294320 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: British Journal of Health Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Br J Health Psychol Source Type: research