Question

Elaine has experienced repeated episodes of severe depression and mania. These episodes and related hospitalizations have disrupted her employment and created discord within her marriage. She argues with the outpatient staff about medications, does not believe she has a mental illness, and although she takes her medications while hospitalized, stops taking them after discharge. She will be discharged in 2 weeks. Which intervention is most likely to increase her medication adherence?

A) Provide Elaine with written information about her medications
B) Involve Elaine's family in monitoring her medication
C) Threaten involuntary commitment if Elaine refuses medication
D) Educate Elaine about the consequences of nonadherence

Answer 1

Educating Elaine about the consequences of nonadherence is the most likely intervention to increase her medication adherence by empowering her with knowledge to make informed decisions regarding her health.

Step-by-step explanation:

The intervention most likely to increase Elaine's medication adherence is educating Elaine about the consequences of nonadherence. This approach involves actively engaging with Elaine to ensure she understands the importance of her medications and the potential negative outcomes if she stops taking them. Providing written information (option A) can be helpful as supplementary material, but without understanding the information's relevance, Elaine may not be motivated by it alone. Involving Elaine's family in monitoring her medication (option B) could be beneficial, but it should be done with Elaine's consent and in a manner that supports her autonomy. Threatening involuntary commitment (option C) would likely be counterproductive and damage the therapeutic relationship. Education about consequences can empower Elaine with knowledge and may lead to her making an informed decision about her health, thereby improving her adherence to the medication regimen.