ADOLESCENTS WHO DROP-OUT OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AT A COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOTHERAPY CENTER - A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OFEARLY DROP-OUTS, LATE DROP-OUTS AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TREATMENT

The present study examined the difference between young people who ter minated treatment prematurely and who continued in treatment. One hund red and thirty-four young people (ages 12 to 24 years) who attended a community-based psychotherapy centre for psychoanalytic psychotherapy between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1996 comprised the sample. It was pr edicted that drop-outs would consist of younger adolescents who were r eferred, who show a high score for externalizing problems such as aggr ession and delinquency and a low score for internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. It was also predicted that continuers woul d be elder, self-referred and show a high score for internalizing prob lems and a low score for externalizing problems. The results indicated significant differences between drop-ours and continuers: drop outs w ere younger, had greater externalizing problems, school problems and p resented with moderate to severe hyperkinetic or conduct disorder. Con tinuers mere older, had fewer externalizing problems, were self-referr ed and were likely to be created by supportive therapists. Since age w as the most significant predictor of attendance, the sample was separa ted into younger adolescents and older adolescents and the same analys es repeated. In the younger group ethnic minority status, and being tr eated by a supportive therapist predicted continuing in treatment and a diagnosis of conduct disorder predicted premature termination. The c linical implications of the present findings for the delivery of psych otherapy services to young people are discussed.