This study investigated personality factors and type of psychological distress
associated with an increased risk of premature termination of psychodynamic
group therapy. Data was part of a larger ongoing longitudinal project. Subjects
who had completed the group therapy (n = 53) were compared to subjects who had
terminated the therapy prematurely (n = 41) with respect to their pre-therapy
personality profiles (as measured with KAPP) and self-reported symptoms (as
measured with the SCL–90). Overall, differences between the groups
were modest but subjects that dropped out of therapy showed more difficulties
with handling frustration, had a more distorted body image, felt more needed and
reported higher levels of phobic anxiety.