Predictors of not starting and dropping out from psychotherapy in Swedish public service settings

Abstract

This naturalistic study examines potential predictors of treatment attendance and discontinuation among patients in the three most common psychotherapy types in Swedish public health service settings. Patients who did not start psychotherapy after pretherapy assessment are compared with patients who started psychotherapy. Patients who discontinued psychotherapy are compared with those remaining in treatment. Data were collected over a 3-year period at 13 outpatient psychiatric clinics, using online patient and therapist questionnaires. Of the 1498 registered patients, 14% never started psychotherapy, 17% dropped out from treatment, 33% continued in treatment, while 36% dropped out from data collection. Being dangerous to others, having Axis I diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), lower level of therapeutic alliance, organizational factors, having younger therapists, psychotic features, and being older were predictive of not starting treatment, while organizational factors, more acting out and criminality, less mental ill-health, and being younger predicted dropout from treatment. Significantly more nonstarters and dropouts were found at clinics with lower levels of organizational structure and stability. Organizational factors predicted both starting and continuing in treatment.