This study investigated reasons given by Mexican American, black American, and Anglo-American patients for prematurely terminating psychotherapy. 74 patients who had prematurely left therapy in a public psychiatric outpatient clinic were interviewed. The three ethnic groups did not appear to be significantly different in their responses. However, dominant reasons reported for terminating therapy included negative attitudes toward therapists and perceiving therapy as of no benefit.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AcostaF. X.Ethnic variables in psychotherapy: The Mexican American. In MartinezJ. L. (Ed.), Chicano psychology. New York: Academic Press, 1977. Pp. 215–231.
2.
AcostaF. X.Barriers between mental health services and Mexican Americans: An examination of a paradox. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1979, 7, 503–519.
3.
AcostaF. X.SheehanJ. G.Preferences toward Mexican American and Anglo-American psychotherapists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1976, 44, 272–279.
4.
AdamsR. L.McDonaldN. F.Clinical cooling out of poor people. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1968, 38, 457–463.
5.
BaekelandF.LundwallL.Dropping out of treatment: A critical review. Psychological Bulletin, 1975, 82, 738–783.
6.
FiermanL. B.Myths in the practice of psychotherapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 1965, 12, 408–414.
7.
GarfieldS. L.Research on client variables in psychotherapy. In BerginA. E.GarfieldS. L. (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change: An empirical analysis. New York: Wiley, 1971. Pp. 271–278.
8.
GarfieldS. L.AffleckD. C.MufflyR.A study of psychotherapy interaction and continuation of psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1963, 19, 473–478.
9.
KaminI.CaughlanJ.Subjective experiences of outpatient psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1963, 17, 660–668.
10.
KlineF.AcostaF. X.AustinW.JohnsonR. G.Subtle bias in the treatment of the Spanish speaking patient. In PadillaE. R.PadillaA. M. (Eds.), Transcultural psychiatry: An Hispanic perspective. Los Angeles: Spanish Speaking Mental Health Research Center, Univer. of California, 1977. Pp. 73–77.
11.
LorionR. P.Socioeconomic status and traditional treatment approaches reconsidered. Psychological Bulletin, 1973, 79, 263–270.
12.
LorionR. P.Patient and therapist variables in the treatment of low-income patients. Psychological Bulletin, 1974, 81, 344–354.
13.
President's Commission on Mental Health: 1978. Report to the President. Vol. 1. Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1978.
14.
SueS.Community mental health services to minority groups: Some optimism, some pessimism. American Psychologist, 1977, 32, 616–624.
15.
ThomasA.SillenS.Racism and psychiatry. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1972.
16.
YamamotoJ.JamesQ. C.BloombaumM.HattemJ.Racial factors in patient selection. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1967, 124, 630–636.
