Objective@#The aim of the present study is to identify the factors that
affect retention in
outpatients with
psychiatric disorders as
indicators of
treatment adherence, including
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (
MMPI) scores. @*
Methods@#The
medical records of 146
patients diagnosed with
major depressive disorder,
bipolar disorder, or
anxiety disorder for at least 10 years and discharged were retrospectively reviewed in the present study. The subjects were categorized based on the duration of
outpatient treatment as < 6 months (L6) or ≥ 6 months (M6) groups and reclassified as < 36 months (L36) and ≥ 36 months (M36) groups. The demographic, clinical, and
personality characteristics of the groups were compared. @*Results@#
Patients in M6 and M36 groups were more likely to have a higher
educational level compared with those in the L6 and L36 groups, respectively.
Patients in the M6 group showed significantly lower
hypomania (Ma) scores on the
MMPI test than did
patients in the L6 group. @*Conclusion@#The
association between high Ma score on the
MMPI test and early discontinuation of
treatment suggests that
impulsivity,
hostility, and disinhibition confer higher
risk of nonadherence.