It is important for individuals who have chronic health problems to follow their doctors’ orders. However, the results of a recent study show that depressed people are less likely to adhere to medications for these conditions than those who do not suffer from this emotional disorder.

In a new RAND Corporation study, researchers found that 76 percent of depressed individuals with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes, were more likely to be non-adherent with their medications.

Researchers examined and combined the findings from 31 past studies on medication adherence to arrive at this conclusion. The data that was used was collected from more than 18,000 people.

These findings are important as non-adherence to medications can put these individuals at risk for poor health, in addition to having implications on the cost of healthcare. People’s inability to follow doctors’ orders in terms of their medication intake is also associated with higher death rates among those with chronic diseases.

Teenagers who show symptoms of depression might want to seek treatment for their emotional disorder, especially if they are already on medication for a chronic condition.