The phenomenon of treatment dropout, reasons and moderators in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other active treatments: A meta-analytic review
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Karekla, Maria
Konstantinou, Pinelopi
Ioannou, Myria
Kareklas, Ioannis
Gloster, Andrew T.
Abstract / Description
Background: Treatment dropout is one of the most crucial issues that a therapist has to face on a daily basis. The negative effects of premature termination impact the client who is usually found to demonstrate poorer treatment outcomes. This meta-analysis reviewed and systematically examined dropout effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as compared to other active treatments. The goals of this study were to compare treatment dropout rates and dropout reasons, examine the influence of demographic variables and identify possible therapy moderators associated with dropout. Method: The current meta-analysis reviewed 76 studies of ACT reporting dropout rates for various psychological and health-related conditions. Results: Across reviewed studies (N = 76), the overall weighted mean dropout rate was 17.95% (ACT = 17.35% vs. comparison conditions = 18.62%). Type of disorder, recruitment setting and therapists’ experience level were significant moderators of dropout. The most frequently reported reasons for dropout from ACT were lost contact, personal and transportation difficulties, whereas for comparative treatments they were lost contact, therapy factors and time demands. Conclusion: Given that most moderators of influence are not amenable to direct changes by clinicians, mediation variables should also be explored. Overall, results suggest that ACT appears to present some benefits in dropout rates for specific disorders, settings and therapists.
Keyword(s)
acceptance and commitment therapy dropout attrition meta-analysis premature terminationPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2019-09-20
Journal title
Clinical Psychology in Europe
Volume
1
Issue
3
Article number
Article e33058
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Karekla, M., Konstantinou, P., Ioannou, M., Kareklas, I., & Gloster, A. T. (2019). The phenomenon of treatment dropout, reasons and moderators in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other active treatments: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 1(3), Article e33058. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v1i3.33058
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Karekla, Maria
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Konstantinou, Pinelopi
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ioannou, Myria
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Kareklas, Ioannis
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Gloster, Andrew T.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2022-04-14T11:19:27Z
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Made available on2022-04-14T11:19:27Z
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Date of first publication2019-09-20
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Abstract / DescriptionBackground: Treatment dropout is one of the most crucial issues that a therapist has to face on a daily basis. The negative effects of premature termination impact the client who is usually found to demonstrate poorer treatment outcomes. This meta-analysis reviewed and systematically examined dropout effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as compared to other active treatments. The goals of this study were to compare treatment dropout rates and dropout reasons, examine the influence of demographic variables and identify possible therapy moderators associated with dropout. Method: The current meta-analysis reviewed 76 studies of ACT reporting dropout rates for various psychological and health-related conditions. Results: Across reviewed studies (N = 76), the overall weighted mean dropout rate was 17.95% (ACT = 17.35% vs. comparison conditions = 18.62%). Type of disorder, recruitment setting and therapists’ experience level were significant moderators of dropout. The most frequently reported reasons for dropout from ACT were lost contact, personal and transportation difficulties, whereas for comparative treatments they were lost contact, therapy factors and time demands. Conclusion: Given that most moderators of influence are not amenable to direct changes by clinicians, mediation variables should also be explored. Overall, results suggest that ACT appears to present some benefits in dropout rates for specific disorders, settings and therapists.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationKarekla, M., Konstantinou, P., Ioannou, M., Kareklas, I., & Gloster, A. T. (2019). The phenomenon of treatment dropout, reasons and moderators in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other active treatments: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 1(3), Article e33058. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v1i3.33058en_US
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ISSN2625-3410
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5119
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5723
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.v1i3.33058
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2594
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Is related tohttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/index.php
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Keyword(s)acceptance and commitment therapyen_US
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Keyword(s)dropouten_US
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Keyword(s)attritionen_US
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Keyword(s)meta-analysisen_US
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Keyword(s)premature terminationen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe phenomenon of treatment dropout, reasons and moderators in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other active treatments: A meta-analytic reviewen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Article numberArticle e33058
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Issue3
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Journal titleClinical Psychology in Europe
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Volume1
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Visible tag(s)Version of Recorden_US