Burden, Distress Tolerance and Medication Adherence in Women with Mental Illness in Remission.

Abstract

Introduction

In women, mentalillness is often associated with social burden and inadequate compliance.

Objectives

Social burden, distress tolerance and medicationadherence among female withmental illness in remission.

Aims

Toknow the level of social burden, distresstolerance and its relationship with medicationadherence among Indian female with mental illness in remission.

Methods

Fiftyone consecutive asymptomatic female patients were assessed using socio-demographicproforma, The Zarit Burden Interview(ZBI), Distress Tolerance Scale(DTS) and Medication adherence scale(MAS). Seventy five percent of patientsexperienced different levels of burden and 25 %has poor medication adherence. Significant correlationwas observed between social burden and occupation (p<. 05); distress tolerancewith decision making (p<. 05) and knowledge about treatment (p <. 05), andmedication adherence with knowledge about treatment(p<.01). Thetotal scores of ZBI had a significant correlation with DTS scores (p. >01) andMAS score (p<.05).

Conclusion

Social burden is common, and interrelatedwith distress tolerance and medicationadherence in women with mental illness in remission.