Abstract

High rates of dropout are common among adolescents in therapy making efforts to reduce adolescent psychopathology and behavioral problems challenging. The present study examined archival data from multiple informants who enrolled in a 16-week intensive outpatient treatment program for self-harming youth. The purpose of this study was to assess potential predictors of treatment dropout. Preliminary analysis indicated that adolescents who dropped out of treatment did not make clinically significant improvements when compared with adolescents who completed the program. This supports the need to retain adolescents in treatment for a complete course of treatment. The study also found that for the most part youth and parent YOQ subscale scores at pretreatment failed to identify reasons for discharge (graduate versus dropout). The sole predictor of dropout was adolescent reported intrapersonal distress assessed at pre-treatment. Specifically, results indicated that adolescents reporting lower degrees of intrapersonal distress at pretreatment were more at risk of dropping out of the program than their peers. By identifying predictors of dropout, clinicians can modify treatment and hopefully reduce dropout rates and improve outcomes for participants in the SHIELD program.

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Freeman, Kimberly

Second Advisor

Arechiga, Adam L.

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Degree Level

Psych.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2015

Date (Title Page)

6-2015

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Adolescent Behavior; Behavior Therapy; Attitude to Health; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Compliance; Patient Dropouts; Patient Outcome Assessment; Parent-Child Relations; Psychotherapy - in Adolescence

Subject - Local

Adolescent Psychopathology; Informants; Outpatient Treatment Programs; Self-harming Youth; Predictors of Treatment Dropout; Intrapersonal Distress

Type

Doctoral Project

Page Count

66

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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