| Abstract [eng] |
An analysis of predictive possibilities of early dropout from therapy based on psychologist‘s and client‘s assessments after the first meeting. Kristina Beruliene, Vilnius, Vilnius University, 2021, 69 p. Studies have shown that a weaker therapeutic alliance between the psychologist and the client, lower psychologist belief in the effectiveness of therapy for a particular client, and low client expectations are significant factors in discontinuing therapy. In addition, it is known that the most significant proportion of treatment dropouts (25%) occur after the first meeting (Swift & Greenberg, 2012). Still, it is not clear whether the therapeutic collaboration, the psychologist's belief in the effectiveness of the therapy, the client's expectations, and the psychologist's prognosis for the further course of therapy and possible difficulties may help predict early termination of therapy. The study involved 14 psychologists and their 28 newly arrived clients. The method of the study consisted of three stages: preparation for the study, collection of psychologist and client evaluations after the first consultation, and collection of psychologist evaluations after 4 weeks. The WAI-ST and WAI-SC scales were used to assess therapeutic collaboration (Hatcher & Gillaspy, 2006), the THCS scale was used to assess the effectiveness of a psychologist's belief in therapy (Bartholomew et al., 2020), and the MPEQ scale was used to assess client expectations (Marsden, 2014). The other questionnaires were developed and used to assess the psychologist's prognosis regarding the expected course of therapy and possible difficulties, assess other client-related circumstances related to therapy, and collect social and demographic data. ROC analysis, linear and logistic regression were chosen for the analysis of prognostic therapy dropout factors. The results showed that the psychologist's prognosis for the course of further therapy might predict early discontinuation of therapy, and weaker therapeutic alliance (especially when no overall goal is seen) and weaker psychologist's belief in the effectiveness of therapy for a particular client may predict early dropout. |
