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

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

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.05.004

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

Idan M. Aderka, Gideon E. Anholt, Anton J.L.M. van Balkom, Johannes H. Smit, Haggai Hermesh, Stefan G. Hofmann, Patricia van Oppen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	918-923
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume	25
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.05.004
State	Published - Oct 2011
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr. Hofmann is a paid consultant by Merck/Schering-Plough and supported by NIMH grant 1R01MH078308 for studies unrelated to the present investigation.

Keywords

Attrition
Depression
Drop-out
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.05.004

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title = "Differences between early and late drop-outs from treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Attrition, Depression, Drop-out, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Treatment",

author = "Aderka, {Idan M.} and Anholt, {Gideon E.} and {van Balkom}, {Anton J.L.M.} and Smit, {Johannes H.} and Haggai Hermesh and Hofmann, {Stefan G.} and {van Oppen}, Patricia",

note = "Funding Information: Dr. Hofmann is a paid consultant by Merck/Schering-Plough and supported by NIMH grant 1R01MH078308 for studies unrelated to the present investigation.",

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AU - Smit, Johannes H.

AU - Hermesh, Haggai

AU - Hofmann, Stefan G.

AU - van Oppen, Patricia

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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