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.