Ingenuity Health Research Flags Potentially High Rate of Medication Nonadherence Among Those with Serious Mental Illness

BALTIMORE, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameritox's Ingenuity Health, a leading provider of monitoring solutions to behavioral health clinicians, today presented clinical research at the National Council of Behavioral Health annual conference in Orlando, Fla., showing that nearly 25 percent of the samples collected from patients with serious mental illness (SMI) did not contain the prescribed antipsychotic medication.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150420/199663LOGO

Medication nonadherence can result in significant barriers to long-term health and public safety. Ingenuity Health researchers also learned that nearly 40 percent of samples tested positive for illicit drugs.

The research poster, "An Evaluation of Urine Drug Monitoring in the Treatment of Patients with Serious Mental Illness," will be featured as part of Ingenuity Health's presence at the National Council conference this week.

Ingenuity Health, a service of Ameritox, has also partnered with national mental health advocate Congressman Patrick Kennedy, lead author of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Kennedy will give a lecture titled "State of the Union: Mental Health and Addictions" at the conference.

The research results presented by Ameritox's Ingenuity Health reveal a stark need for the equal treatment of those with mental illness – a reality for which Kennedy advocates.

In addition to a higher incidence of drug abuse among those with serious mental illness, independent research shows that hospital stays and incarceration are far more frequent among those with SMI who may be nonadherent to their medication plan.

"Medication nonadherence is the single greatest roadblock to improved health and higher quality of life for those with serious mental illness, and our research shows the risk of nonadherence is far too common," said Jerry Vaccaro, M.D., president of Ingenuity Health.

About Ingenuity Health
As part of Ameritox^SM, a national leader in medication monitoring solutions, Ingenuity Health utilizes urine drug monitoring to provide highly reliable data and analysis that helps doctors and behavioral health specialists better treat patients diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI).

Visit the Ingenuity Health website at: www.ingenuityhealth.com 
Follow Ingenuity Health on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ingenuityhealth

About Ameritox
Ameritox helped pioneer the prescription drug monitoring necessary to address the national epidemic of prescription drug misuse, abuse, and diversion. As a trusted leader in Pain Medication Monitoring Solutions^SM, Ameritox provides medical and business professionals with health care solutions that can help improve patient care and prevent tragedy. Ameritox, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has 800 employees nationwide and laboratory facilities in Greensboro, N.C.

Visit the Ameritox website at: www.ameritox.com 
Follow Ameritox on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ameritox

Contact: 
Lon Wagner
Director of Communications, Ameritox
(336) 387-7742
Email

Genevieve Rozansky
202-509-0794
Email

SOURCE Ameritox

Related Links

http://www.ameritox.com