Relationship of clients' reasons for dropping out of treatment to outcome and satisfaction

Abstract

Forty-nine adult drop-outs and parents of 37 child drop-outs were contacted 4 months after intake and asked why they terminated treatment. Outcome and satisfaction data also were obtained for these clients, 45 treatment completers, and 51 who were still in treatment. Problem improvement, environmental obstacles, and dissatisfaction with treatment were the reasons most often cited for dropping out. For adults, client measures indicated that "problem improved" drop-outs had superior outcome and satisfaction and that "dissatisfied" drop-outs had inferior outcome and satisfaction relative to other drop-out groups. For children, "dissatisfied" and "environmental obstacle" drop-outs had inferior outcome and satisfaction. Therapist ratings did not differ among dropout groups and were lower than those of completers and continuers.