Personality Characteristics and Adherence to Treatment in Hypertension Patients

Relevance. The study of psychological mechanisms in the formation of hypertension is a particularly urgent issue in medical psychology, because this disease is the most common among people of working age. Psychological factors in the form of stress, irritability, non-adherence to therapy, high conflict can provoke high blood pressure and lead to complications.

Intention – to study the personality traits and adherence to therapy of patients with hypertension, to compile practical recommendations for medical psychologists in the cardiology department.

Materials and methods. A total of 418 patients with hypertension (215 women and 203 men, average age 45 ± 7.4 years) were examined. At the time of the assessment, the patients were undergoing inpatient treatment at the private healthcare institution “Medical and Sanitary Unit” and were under the supervision of cardiologists and therapists (Astrakhan, Russia). The study used survey methods, in particular, psychodiagnostic techniques: KOP-25 “Quantitative Assessment of Treatment Adherence Questionnaire” (N.A. Nikolaev, Yu.P. Skirdenko), the Big Five personality test questionnaire (in the Russian adaptation by A.B. Khromov). Empirical data were recorded using the Google Forms Internet service. The parameters of descriptive statistics, the linear correlation coefficient and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient were calculated (Statistics 22.0 program).

Results. The findings revealed low treatment adherence among patients, which negatively affects their physical health and increases the risk of complications and mortality. The study identified personality traits associated with various dimensions of adherence: adherence to medication, medical supervision, and lifestyle changes. Traits such as high self-control and attachment were positively associated with better adherence, whereas emotional instability and expressiveness were found to hinder adherence. Importantly, the risk factors for low adherence identified in the study are modifiable.

Conclusion. These studies are necessary as targets for psychological correction of personality traits that have a negative impact on the formation of adherence to therapy in patients with hypertension. Among the effective measures to increase adherence to therapy in patients with hypertension is a comprehensive approach. Training in the “School of Patients with Hypertension” and regular monitoring of blood pressure contribute to higher treatment efficiency.