Development of an antidepressant compliance questionnaire

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Abstract
The development of the Antidepressant Compliance Questionnaire (ADCQ), assessing patients' attitudes and beliefs on depression and antidepressants. A 51-item questionnaire was applied to 85 psychiatric out-patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). This data set was used to assess psychometric properties of the ADCQ. The questionnaire was also applied to 272 primary care out-patients with MDD. A principal component analysis revealed four dimensions with good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest reliability: 'perceived doctor-patient relationship', 'preserved autonomy', 'positive beliefs on antidepressants' and 'partner agreement', resulting in a final questionnaire comprising 33-items. Responses were independent from depression severity and patient age. The response patterns of both psychiatric and primary care patients are provided and illustrate the many erroneous beliefs on antidepressants. The ADCQ has good psychometric properties; further investigation should investigate whether this questionnaire is predictive of patient compliance.