title: Factors related to dropout from treatment in two outpatient treatments for borderline personality disorder.
abstract: Patients with borderline personality disorder frequently drop out prematurely from psychotherapy. This study examined factors related to treatment attrition in 180 patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial comparing 1 year of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to General Psychiatric Management (GPM). Completers and dropouts were compared on a range of variables, including demographics, Axis I and Axis II disorders, anger and impulsivity, therapeutic alliance, and treatment condition. The participants were on average 30.36 years old and 86% were female. Regression analyses revealed that individuals who dropped out had higher levels of anger (p = .01), greater Axis I comorbidity (p = .03), poorer therapeutic alliance (p = .003), and a higher number of lifetime suicide attempts (p = .05). An interaction was also found between Axis I comorbidity and treatment condition, with significantly lower rates of dropout seen in individuals with high Axis I comorbidity who were assigned to GPM compared to those assigned to DBT (p < .001).
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wnuk
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMain
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Links
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Habinski
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guimond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000786:Anger; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data