Sammanfattning
Background. Drop-out from psychotherapy is common and represents a considerable problem in
clinical practice and research. Aim. To explore pre-treatment predictors of early and late dropout
from psychodynamic group therapy in a public outpatient unit for non-psychotic disorders
in Denmark. Methods . Naturalistic design including 329 patients, the majority with mood,
neurotic and personality disorders referred to 39-session group therapy. Predictors were
sociodemographic
and clinical variables, self-reported symptoms (Symptom Check List-90-Revised)
and personality style (Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II). Drop-out was classifi ed into early
and late premature termination excluding patients who dropped out for external reasons. Results .
Drop-out comprised 20.6% (68 patients) of the sample. Logistic regression revealed social
functioning, vocational training, alcohol problems and antisocial behavior to be related to dropout.
However, early drop-outs had prominent agoraphobic symptoms, lower interpersonal
sensitivity and compulsive personality features, and late drop-outs cognitive and somatic anxiety
symptoms and antisocial personality features. Clinical and psychological variables accounted for
the major part of variance in predictions of drop-out, which ranged from 15.6% to 19.5%
(Nagelkerke Pseudo R -Square). Conclusion . Social functioning was consistently associated with
drop-out, but personality characteristics and anxiety symptoms differentiated between early and
late drop-out. Failure to discriminate between stages of premature termination may explain some
of the inconsistencies in the drop-out literature. Clinical implications. Before selection of
patients to time-limited psychodynamic groups, self-reported symptoms should be thoroughly
considered. Patients with agoraphobic symptoms should be offered alternative treatment.
Awareness of and motivation to work with interpersonal issues may be essential for compliance
with group therapy.