Predictors of dropout in a controlled clinical trial of psychotherapy for moderate depression

Abstract

A significant number of psychotherapy clients remain untreated, and dropping out is one of the main reasons. Still, the literature around this subject is incoherent. The present study explores potential pre-treatment predictors of dropout in a sample of clients who took part in a clinical trial designed to test the efficacy of narrative therapy for major depressive disorder compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Logistic regression analysis showed that: (1) treatment assignment did not predict dropout, (2) clients taking psychiatric medication at intake were 80% less likely to drop out from therapy, compared to clients who were not taking medication, and (3) clients presenting anxious comorbidity at intake were 82% less likely to dropout compared to those clients not presenting anxious comorbidity. Results suggest that clinicians should pay attention to depressed clients who are not taking psychiatric medication or have no comorbid anxiety. More research is needed in order to understand this relationship.

Leiden Index of Depression Sensitivity-Revised (LEIDS-R): Spanish validation proposal

“…For psychological treatment, other researchers would have to corroborate whether CR is a vulnerability element common to Anxiety and Depressive disorders. Furthermore, in line with the results of Lopes, Gonçalves, Sinai, and Machado (2015) , it would be of interest to study whether CR can predict patients exclusively with depressive disorders quitting therapy compared to those with anxiety and depression comorbidity.…”

Predictors of depression severity in a treatment-seeking sample

“…Factors shown to increase an individual's vulnerability for relapse and recurrence include a history of depression, psychiatric illness, the quality of any recovery from a previous episode, is a woman, a history of family depression, and any recent loss ( Judd et al, 2000 , Richards, 2011 , Solomon et al, 2000 , Solomon et al, 2008 ). In addition research has shown how factors such as depressed patients with comorbid anxiety and not taking medication are at risk of dropping out from treatments ( Lopes, Gonçalves, Sinai, & Machado, 2015 ).…”

How to improve participant compliance in clinical trials: A Scoping Review of process factors

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