Situational factors and behavioral self-predictions in the identification of clients at high risk to drop out of psychotherapy

Abstract

Two hundred and eight adults who requested outpatient treatment at a community mental health center were asked to complete brief questionnaires immediately prior to and after their first therapy session. Questionnaires contained items that pertained to self‐predicted length of stay in psychotherapy, situational barriers to regular attendance, and past behavior in similar situations (e.g., appointment‐keeping with other health care professionals). Therapists also were asked to make predictions with regard to client length of stay. Questionnaire data were analyzed via a series of double cross‐validated multiple regression and discriminant function equations, and results indicated that client and therapist predictions of length of stay in therapy were the most stable and consistent correlates of attendance behavior.

Models of Psychotherapy Outcome: Are They Applicable in Training Clinics?

“…Some studies have found a correlation between occupational status and length of treatment (e.g., DuBrin & Zastowny, 1988). However, other studies have not noted differences in length of treatment as a function of occupational status (e.g., Beck et al, 1987;Sledge, Moras, Hartley, & Levine, 1990).…”

To attend or not attend? A critical review of the factors impacting on initial appointment attendance from an approach–avoidance perspective

“…Beer, 1991;Carpenter et al, 1981;McCabe, 2002), and lack transportation and have to travel further for treatment facilities (e.g. Beck et al, 1987;Daniels & Jung, 2009;. Psychotherapeutic studies examining the severity of symptom presentation have also provided conflicting findings, suggesting that greater depressive severity does not always positively predict first session non-attendance (e.g.…”

Avaliação de resultados da psicoterapia psicanalítica

“…Na literatura especializada, a variedade de definições do que é considerado abandono e interrupção é fator confundidor [50][51][52] . Independentemente dessas definições, o percentual de pacientes que desistem da psicoterapia (abandono propriamente dito ou interrupção comunicada), em diferentes idades, grupos diagnósticos e modalidades de tratamento, variam de 30 a 60% 53 .…”

“…Portanto, as variações em torno do processo do término de tratamento são muito complexas, e o término, muitas vezes, caracteriza-se por interrupções com pacientes retornando mais tarde ao tratamento 57 . Sabe-se que menos de 20% dos pacientes, em centros de saúde mental comunitários, realizam tratamento cujo término é de mútuo acordo 50 . Nossa amostra confirma essas afirmações: além de ter sido constituída por uma maioria de pacientes que interromperam os tratamentos, um número significativo havia recebido algum tipo de tratamento anterior.…”