Improved clinical functioning for patients receiving fee discounts that reward treatment engagement
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Financial incentives may have utility in promoting psychotherapy attendance and adherence, leading to improved clinical functioning. This study presents results from a novel application of financial incentives-a progressively lowered pay scale that rewards therapy attendance and adherence. METHOD: Overall, 110 outpatients participated; 56 patients (51%) were enrolled in the financial incentives condition and received a 5% fee discount-applied iteratively across sessions-if they followed defined criteria (e.g., completed homework). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of the number of sessions attended, therapy duration, and number of no-shows and cancellations. However, adjusting for Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) at intake, patients receiving the financial incentives had significantly higher GAF rating at termination compared with those who did not receive the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Financial incentives that reward therapy attendance and adherence with discounted fees is associated with improved clinical functioning.
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A few studies have examined whether financial incentives improve adherence to mental health treatment.
“A few studies have examined whether financial incentives (e.g., vouchers, nominal cash payments, or raffles) improve adherence to mental health treatment (32–34)”
From Improving Acceptability and Uptake Behavior for Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [34]
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Improving Acceptability and Uptake Behavior for Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
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- Authors
- Stanley, I. H., Chu, C., Brown, T. A., Sawyer, K. A., & Joiner, T. E.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stanley, Ian H.
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-11-27
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 15-21
- ISSN
- 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4679
- OpenAlex
- W2177885298
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- financial incentives, fee reduction, medication adherence, homework completion, Global Assessment of Functioning, clinical functioning, outpatients
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Patient Compliance, Psychotherapy, Reward, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult
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