Factors Associated With Early Dropout From Adolescent Psychiatric Outpatient Treatment

Abstract

Objective To examine background factors, psychopathology, and psychosocial impairment among adolescents complying with or dropping out early from outpatient psychiatric treatment. Method Family background, psychiatric history, and other data were collected prospectively on 143 male and 154 female outpatients aged 12 to 22 years. DSM-II-R psychiatric diagnoses were assessed at the end of treatment. Results Fifty-three adolescents (17.8%) attended 1 or 2 treatment appointments, and 33 of them (11.1% of 297) then dropped out; 50.5% of the total attended 3 to 13, and 31.6% attended 14 or more appointments. Low parental socioeconomic status was more common among the early dropouts than the other patient groups (88%, 69%, 63%, respectively). The early dropouts had had more problems with the law than the adolescents attending 14 or more appointments (18%, 6%), but less suicidal behavior (24%, 56%, respectively). Among the early dropouts, mood disorders were less common (21%, 49%), especially major depression (0%, 20%), and substance abuse was more common (9%, 0%) than among patients attending 14 or more appointments. Conclusions Low parental socioeconomic status, not having mood disorder, not having psychotropic medication, and having substance abuse were associated with early dropout of adolescents from outpatient psychiatric treatment.