Psychological Factors and Medical Compliance Among Patients With Breast Pain

Background/Purpose: This study was designed to examine how psychological factors related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) influence adherence to medical regimens for patients with breast pain. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-six female subjects from a breast clinic completed a structured questionnaire during their visits. All subjects were followed-up by telephone interview to determine their degree of treatment adherence. The presence of PMS symptoms was used to indicate psychological disturbances of the subjects in relation to their adherence to a mastalgia regimen. The PMS status of subjects was measured by modifying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4^th edition, research criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The severity of each subject's PMS was summarized by confirmatory factor analysis. Logistic regression was used to establish associations between the aggregated PMS score and compliance behavior. Results: PMS scores were statistically significant in predicting adherence to medical regimens for breast pain. Conclusion: The psychological aspects of PMS have considerable influence on noncompliance with medical regimens for breast pain, and patients should be counseled accordingly.