This study explored prediction of early attrition from couple therapy at a community agency. Using 16 therapist-derived predictors of failure to engage in therapy, multiple regression analysis suggested that common-law relationships and low nonmortgage debt predicted dropout among 45 couples. The results are discussed with reference to the literature on early termination.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaekelandF.LundwallL. (1975) Dropping out of treatment: Critical review. Psychological Bulletin, 82, 738–783.
2.
DuBrinJ. R.ZastownyT. R. (1988) Predicting early attrition from psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 25, 393–408.
3.
FeisterA. R.RudestamK. E. (1975) A multivariate analysis of the early dropout process. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 528–535.
4.
HardinS. I.SubichL. M.HolveyJ. M. (1988) Expectancies for counseling in relation to premature termination. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 37–40.
5.
HollingsheadA. B.RedlichF. C. (1958) Social class and mental illness. New York: Wiley.
6.
JacobsonN. S.GurmanA. S. (1986) Clinical handbook of marital therapy. New York: Guilford.
7.
KolbD. L.BeutlerL. E.DavisC. S.CragoM.ShanfieldS. B. (1985) Patient and therapy process variables relating to dropout and change in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 22, 702–710.
8.
MalanD. H. (1976) The frontier of brief psychotherapy. New York: Plenum.
9.
OlsenD. H.RussellC. S.SprenkleD. H. (1980) Marital and family therapy: Decade review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 42, 973–994.
10.
PopeK. S.GillerJ. D.WilkinsonL. (1975) Fee assessment and outpatient psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 835–841.