DROPPING OUT OF PSYCHIATRIC-TREATMENT - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF A FIRST-ADMISSION COHORT

This study examined patient and treatment variables associated with pa tients dropping out of psychiatric treatment, drop-outs' reasons for t erminating treatment, and the relationship between drop-out and patien t satisfaction. The term 'drop-out' was defined as termination of trea tment despite therapeutic need, In a cohort of 131 first-admission psy chiatric patients, 26% of these subjects dropped out of treatment duri ng the first year. Multivariate analysis showed that dropping out was predicted by (a) living alone, (b) unemployment, (c) young age and (d) change of treatment service within the last month demanded by the pat ient against medical advice. Variables such as gender, diagnosis, mode of admission, lyre of hospital ward, level of treatment, transfer in accordance with treatment needs and inappropriate transfer caused by t he treatment system were all non-significant. The drop-outs were marke dly less satisfied with both the outcome and various aspects of the tr eatment process than (hose who did not drop out. The most common reaso ns given by the drop-outs for terminating treatment were dissatisfacti on with care (44%) and no need for further treatment (20%). Greater kn owledge of The factors related to drop-out might increase the likeliho od of keeping patients in treatment.