University of Pennsylvania · Social ScienceThe Adherence Lab
Steven C Marcus · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Steven C. Marcus leads a research lab at the University of Pennsylvania focusing on improving treatment for adult depression within primary care. His lab studies innovative approaches like personalized text message reminders and financial incentives to boost patient adherence to antidepressant medications. The ultimate goal is to identify effective, evidence-based strategies that can easily be integrated into standard healthcare practices to enhance patient outcomes.
antidepressant adherencetext message remindersfinancial incentivesdepression treatmentprimary care
Research Aims
5AIM 01Test the effectiveness of personalized text reminders on antidepressant adherence.
AIM 02Evaluate the impact of financial incentives combined with text reminders.
AIM 03Compare these new strategies against usual care practices for depression treatment.
AIM 04Explore how financial security may influence adherence to antidepressants.
AIM 05Assess patient perspectives on adherence and the use of reminders and incentives.
Skills the Lab Values
randomized controlled trialsbehavioral economicspatient engagementstatistical analysisqualitative research methods
Output against the department
Publications390top 13% of dept.10th of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations19ktop 12% of dept.9th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.