Using text reminders and financial rewards to help adults take their antidepressants
Official title: Testing tailored text reminders and financial incentives to enhance antidepressant adherence for depressed adults in primary care
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11166652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether sending personalized text message reminders and offering small cash rewards can help adults stick to their antidepressant medications better, and it’s for people who have recently started taking these medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $714,568 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135011-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who have been newly prescribed antidepressant medications and are experiencing depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently prescribed antidepressants or those with severe mental health conditions requiring immediate intervention may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how personalized text message reminders and small financial incentives can improve adherence to antidepressant medications among adults in primary care. The study will involve 525 participants who have recently been prescribed antidepressants, comparing the effectiveness of reminders alone versus reminders combined with financial rewards. Adherence will be monitored using wireless pill bottles and electronic health records, while depression symptoms will be assessed through phone interviews. The goal is to find the most effective and cost-efficient way to support patients in maintaining their medication routines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved adherence to antidepressant medications, resulting in better mental health outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that behavioral interventions, including reminders and incentives, can effectively improve medication adherence, suggesting this approach may yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marcus, Steven C — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Marcus, Steven C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.