Recent Innovations in Psychology

Recent Innovations in Psychology

Premature Dropout from Psychotherapy and Counseling among Clients to Psychological and Psychiatric Clinics: The Role of Demographic Characteristics, Self-esteem and Anxiety

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Somayeh Safarzade 1
Mahnaz Joukar Kamalabadi 2
Faridehsadat Hoseini 3
Seyed Mousa Golestaneh 4
1 PhD. Student in Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
4 Associate professor, Department of Psychology, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
10.22034/rip.2024.484087.1065
Abstract
Psychotherapy has been demonstrated to be an efficacious intervention for the treatment of mental disorders. However, over the past decade, there has been a notable rise in client dissatisfaction with the psychotherapy process and an increase in the number of premature dropouts from treatment sessions. The objective of the present study was to examine the influence of demographic characteristics, self-esteem and anxiety on the phenomenon of premature termination of psychotherapy and counseling. The research method employed in the present study was that of a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population comprised all clients attending psychology and psychiatry clinics in Mashhad. The intended sample comprised 87 references, selected by purposive sampling between September 2023 and April 2024. The Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Demographic Information Questionnaire for Patients (DIQFP) were employed as instruments for the measurement of the variables under investigation. The findings indicated that gender, age, anxiety, and self-esteem were associated with early discontinuation of psychotherapy and counseling (P < 0.05) and predicted 39% of the variance. No statistically significant correlation was identified between clinical diagnosis and premature dropout of psychotherapy and counseling (P > 0.05). The results of the study indicated that demographic characteristics, anxiety, and self-esteem are predictive premature dropout of psychotherapy and counseling. It is anticipated that the findings of the present study will provide a foundation for further investigation of the psychotherapy process and treatment sessions by clinical professionals.
Keywords
anxiety
demographic characteristics
premature dropout
psychotherapy
self-esteem
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 17 October 2024
  • Revise Date 16 November 2024
  • Accept Date 19 November 2024
  • First Publish Date 06 December 2024