Persistence with Newly Initiated Antidepressant Medication in Rhode Island Medicaid: Analysis and Insights for Promoting Patient Adherence.

OBJECTIVE To describe persistence to newly prescribed antidepressant medications within the Rhode Island Medicaid population. METHODS This retrospective study analyzed antidepressant medication persistence in a cohort of new users for a period spanning 2013-2014, focusing on the acute treatment phase (first 12 weeks of treatment). Covariates assessed included patient gender, age, comorbidity status, and measures of health system utilization. RESULTS Only 53.8% of patients persisted with medication for at least 12 weeks. (Figure 1). Persistence was increased with age > 35, and lower among patients lacking a follow-up visit. Multivariable analyses revealed that patients having at least one office visit during the follow-up period were nearly 2.5 times more likely to persist as compared to patients lacking such visits (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.77-3.35). Persistence was 22% more likely among patients receiving psychiatric services (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.00-1.48). CONCLUSIONS Antidepressant treatment persistence within the R.I. Medicaid population is suboptimal, and lowest among patients lacking follow-up care.