Determinants of Patient Compliance with Anticonvulsant Therapy

Summary: Determinants of compliance were examined in 101 hospital outpatients with epilepsy. Self-reported patient compliance was associated with plasma anticonvulsant levels, prescription refill frequencies, and appointment keeping. Factors independently related to compliance were worry about one's health, having generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and the absence of barriers to good compliance. Seizure frequency indirectly contributed to patient compliance through worry about one's health. Removing potential barriers to compliance and counselling patients who have been relatively seizure-free may improve compliance with anticonvulsant therapy.