Use of Behavioral Economics to Improve Medication Adherence in Severe Mental Illness.

Publication Date

2019

Journal Title

Psychiatr Serv

Abstract

Medication nonadherence is associated with multiple negative outcomes. Financial reinforcement based on behavioral economic principles has been proposed as a potential strategy to enhance medication adherence in severe mental illness, and some studies show that small incentives significantly increase adherence to long-acting injectable treatment. After the intervention is stopped, however, adherence appears to decline. Because of the limited number of studies published so far, results should be interpreted with caution. When implementing this strategy, measures must be taken to address ethical concerns. Larger, naturalistic studies focusing on the effects of financial incentives for different treatment formulations are needed to further evaluate this adherence-enhancing strategy.

Volume Number

70

Issue Number

10

Pages

955 - 957

Document Type

Article

Status

Faculty

Facility

School of Medicine

Primary Department

Psychiatry

Additional Departments

Molecular Medicine

PMID

31215352

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.201900116

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