This retrospective study aimed at investigating the rates of treatment nonattendance and dropout at a university-affiliated child guidance clinic and identifying socio demographic, clinical and family risk factors that contribute to them. We obtained archival data of 258 children. Sixteen percent of the families did not return after their intake interview. Among families that returned, forty-nine percent dropped out of treatment. Groups were compared with respect to risk factors for self-termination: nonattenders (clients who did not return after intake) versus attenders (clients who returned); dropouts (clients that attended at least one session before interrupting treatment) versus completers (clients that persisted until treatment conclusion). Children from nonnattender families attended earlier school grades and had less behavior problems. Children in the dropout group had lower scores in intelligence assessment, their fathers were younger and their families were more exposed to psychosocial stress, as compared to completers.
Child treatment; nonattendance; dropout
