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Dropout prediction in a public mental health intervention for sub-threshold and mild panic disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2015

Peter Meulenbeek*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands GGNet, Community Mental Health Centre, Enschede, The Netherlands
Kristin Seeger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
Peter M. ten Klooster
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
*
*Author for correspondence: P. Meulenbeek, PhD, University of Twente and GGNet, Drienerlolaan 5, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands, The Netherlands (email: p.a.m.meulenbeek@utwente.nl).

Abstract

Dropout is a common and serious problem in psychological research and practice. When participants terminate treatment prematurely, this may have methodological and clinical consequences. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of dropout in a sample of patients (N = 217) with sub-threshold and mild panic disorder treated with a public mental health intervention programme based on cognitive-behavioural principles. Three groups of possible baseline predictors were selected from the literature: (1) socio-demographic, (2) personal, and (3) illness-related variables. A total of 51 (23.5%) participants were classified as dropouts. Dropouts were further subdivided into pretreatment dropouts (n = 17) who attended no course sessions at all and regular dropouts (n = 34) who attended 1–5 course sessions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of dropout. Few variables were significantly associated with increased odds of dropout and the total explained variance was small. Fewer years of education was the only independent predictor of total dropout and male gender was associated with more pretreatment dropout. No independent predictors were found for regular dropout. It can be concluded that it is difficult to precisely predict dropout risk in patients participating in a public mental health intervention for panic symptoms.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Davis, S, Hooke, GR, Page, AC (2006). Identifying and targeting predictors of drop-out from group cognitive behaviour therapy. Australian Journal of Psychology 58, 4856.Google Scholar
Keijsers, JPG, Kampman, M, Hoogduin, CAL (2001). Dropout prediction in cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder. Behavior Therapy 32, 739749.Google Scholar
Meulenbeek, P, Willemse, G, Smit, F, Van Balkom, A, Spinhoven, P, Cuijpers, P (2010). Early intervention in panic: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry 196, 326331.Google Scholar
White, KS, Allen, AB, Barlow, DH, Gorman, JM, Shear, MK, Woods, SW (2010). Attrition in a multicenter clinical trial for panic disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 198, 665671.Google Scholar

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