Blog

Poor adherence to psychotropic medication regimens is one of the major roadblocks to improved clinical outcomes. In today’s time-pressed practice of psychiatry, with its emphasis on the brief medication management visit, clinicians and patients often feel rushed and disconnected, which results in a poor therapeutic alliance. When the therapeutic alliance is positive, medication adherence is better and treatment outcomes should improve.1 Integrating mindfulness into our practices may help foster the therapeutic alliance and ultimately medication adherence. Engaging in mindfulness activities either individually or with patients who come to us for brief medication visits can have a profound influence on the therapeutic process. Mindfulness can help us and our patients settle down and be more present during the session. This can provide the catalyst for more meaningful engagement and better therapeutic outcome. While there is no universally agreed on definition of mindfulness, it is helpful to understand the concept as embracing humanness and accepting one’s body, thoughts, feelings, and emotions without judgment.