title: Decreasing treatment dropout by addressing expectations for treatment length.
abstract: Therapy dropout or premature termination is a significant problem which impedes the delivery of psychotherapy services. In this study, a method aimed to reduce the occurrence of premature termination by addressing clients' duration expectations was examined. Sixty-three adult clients seeking psychotherapy services from a psychology department training clinic were randomized into control (n=32) and education groups (n=31). On average, those clients in the education group, who were provided information about the dose-effect model prior to their intake appointment, were found to stay in treatment significantly longer (d=0.55) and were more likely to be classified as therapy completers (RR=3.55) when compared to clients in the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, USA. Joshua.Keith.Swift@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joshua K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Callahan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult