Factors related to adherence with post-traumatic stress disorder treatment: A qualitative study among Portuguese war veterans

• Autor(a) principal: Ferrajão,Paulo Correia
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Oliveira,Rui Aragão
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1647-21602015000100004
• topic: Trauma; Recovery; Patient’s adherence; Treatment

BACKGROUND: Research found better Post-traumatic Stress Disorder treatment outcomes among war veterans with treatment adherence. Perception of lack of benefits from medication, medication side effects, and social stigma were related to treatment non-adherence. Insight about the disease promoted medication adherence. AIM: This study explored the coping strategies and perceived psychosocial resources involved in treatment adherence among traumatized patients. METHODS: Sample was composed of Portuguese war veterans (N=60): 30 participants had chronic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (non-recovered) and 30 had remission from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (recovered). It was conducted a semi-structured interview. Content analysis was performed for interviews analysis. RESULTS: Recovered group showed higher frequencies of reported treatment adherence. Participants who reported treatment adherence showed higher frequencies of problem focused coping, self-integration of incongruent experiences in personal schemas, insight, and appraisal of good social support. Participants who reported treatment non-adherence mentioned more use of acting out strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder was facilitated by treatment adherence. Integration of discrepant experiences in personal schemas was a key process for developing higher insight about the disease. Patients’ perceived control over recovery was facilitated by more effective coping strategies in patients with inadequate social support.