The group psychotherapy dropout phenomenon revisited

In this two-year study, patients referred for group therapy were extensively screened and carefully prepared for the therapy. In spite of this effort there was a 29% dorpout rate after group therapy began. All of the therapists reported that they disliked the patients who dropped out, and many of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American journal of psychiatry Vol. 135; no. 12; p. 1492
Main Author Lothstein, L M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.12.1978
Subjects
Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Health
Female
Hostility
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Male
Mental Disorders - psychology
Mental Disorders - therapy
Patient Dropouts
Professional-Patient Relations
Psychotherapy, Group - standards
Sex Factors
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Summary:In this two-year study, patients referred for group therapy were extensively screened and carefully prepared for the therapy. In spite of this effort there was a 29% dorpout rate after group therapy began. All of the therapists reported that they disliked the patients who dropped out, and many of these patients were seen as hostile toward the therapists. The author suggests that for many groups the dropout phenomenom may be basic to the establishment of group cohesiveness and that instead of trying to prevent or reduce the dropout phenomenon, efforts should be directed toward reconceptualizing the more positive aspects of it.
ISSN:0002-953X
DOI:10.1176/ajp.135.12.1492