Differences between early and late drop-outs from treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder

作者：Aderka Idan M^*; Anholt Gideon E; van Balkom Anton J L M; Smit Johannes H; Hermesh Haggai; Hofmann Stefan G; van Oppen Patricia

来源：Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2011, 25(7): 918-923.

DOI：10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.05.004

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Treatment
• Drop-out
• Attrition
• Depression

To examine characteristics of drop-outs from treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), we studied 121 participants who underwent exposure or cognitive treatment, either alone or with fluvoxamine. OCD symptoms were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at every session. No differences in attrition were found between treatment conditions. Drop-outs from treatment (n = 31) were divided into early (before session 6) and late (session 6 or after) drop-outs. We found that early drop-outs had more severe OCD symptoms at termination compared to completers, whereas late drop-outs did not differ from treatment completers. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with early drop-outs, and lower levels with completers. These findings suggest that individuals with high levels of pretreatment depression are at risk for early drop-out with elevated OCD symptoms. Conversly, late drop-outs may be treatment responders who drop out after experiencing substantial improvement. Implications for allocation of resources for attrition prevention are discussed.

• 出版日期2011-10
• 单位上海市精神卫生中心