Citation

Khazaie H, Rezaie L, de Jong DM. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2013; 35(3): 314-319.

Affiliation

Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851151 , Iran.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.10.008

PMID

23265950

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Outpatient psychiatric treatment provides both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for a large portion of psychiatric patients. Dropping out, or early termination of treatment, may be considered a common barrier to outpatient's psychiatric treatment. There are limited studies on this issue in Iran. The current study aimed to examine rates, predictors and reasons of dropping out of an outpatient psychiatric treatment. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this 6-month cohort study, 1500 outpatients who visited 10 psychiatrist's offices in the Iranian city of Kermanshah were recruited and followed for 2 years (2009-2011) for recommended treatments including admission to hospital, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and a combination of both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Characteristics of patients who dropped out of the current study were collected, and reasons for dropping out were collected via phone or in person interview. RESULTS: Dropouts were prevalent in prescribed treatments. Pretreatment (primary) dropout rates in psychotherapy treatment were 4 times greater than dropout rates in pharmacotherapy treatment (80% and 20%, respectively). There were significance differences between dropouts and non-dropouts of pharmacotherapy with respect to patient characteristics; younger age, male gender, low level of education, unemployment, lack of insurance, new cases and divorce were more prevalent among dropouts (P<.001). With regard to diagnosis, dropping out was more prevalent among patients with substance-related disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders when compared to other diagnoses (P<.001). Commonly reported reasons for dropping out included overslept and too ill to attend treatment and fear of becoming addicted to prescribed psychotropic medication (30% and 18%, respectively). Lack of confidence in therapist ability and lack of confidence in the efficacy of the treatment were more prevalent in patients who dropped out of psychotherapy (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Patient dropout is a common problem in outpatient psychiatric treatment, particularly in psychotherapy treatment. Further research on reasons for dropping out and strategies to reduce rates of dropouts is recommended.

Language: en