IDENTIFYING EARLY DROPOUTS FROM A REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

The attendance of 112 patients referred to an outpatient psychiatric r ehabilitation program was retrospectively examined, and characteristic s of dropouts were compared with those of patients who remained in tre atment during the first eight weeks. Discriminant function analysis re vealed that a combination of three variables correctly predicted 81 pe rcent of the dropout group. The variables were a hostile, labile, or b izarre affect; a diagnosis of personality disorder; and impaired orien tation. Patients with these characteristics require a thorough assessm ent of specific needs and deficits and ongoing evaluation of treatment approaches such as adaptations of psychosocial rehabilitation, dialec tical behavioral therapy, and assertive case management.