Barriers and Facilitators to Medication Adherence Among Individuals With Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis

Non-adherence to psychotropic medications remains a major concern among psychiatric patients, exacerbating symptoms and increasing the risk of relapses, rehospitalization, and suicide. This meta-synthesis aims at consolidating the findings from qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to medication adherence from the perspectives of individuals with mental disorders, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and ClinicalKey, including qualitative studies published in English from 2000 to 2024. The methodological quality was assessed using Walsh and Downe's checklist and data were thematically analyzed using Lucas's framework. The review found 15 barriers such as stigma, unpleasant side effects and fear of abuse, misperception, lack of insight, forgetfulness, and lack of accessibility and availability of healthcare providers, and 10 facilitators including shared decision-making, quality information, personable attributes of healthcare providers, a steady medication schedule, and a support network for medication adherence. Identifying barriers and facilitators of the study to medication adherence in persons with mental disorders is essential for developing personalized treatment plans to enhance adherence and ensure effective management of psychiatric conditions.