Clients' perceptions of therapists with high attrition rates.

59 adult clients assigned to high-dropout rate therapists and 51 assigned to low-dropout rate therapists rated the therapists on several demographic and therapy-process variables. Findings show that a number of the therapy-process variables significantly differentiated the 2 groups of therapists. It is advocated that researchers consider the role of the therapist and therapy-process dimensions in future studies of early psychotherapy termination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Demographic data and mental health planning

An attempt to induce portal hypertension using Ameroid constrictors and shunt operations is described. 1 week after the application of the Ameroid constrictor around the portal trunk, it was completely occluded and portal venous pressure was elevated to a level about twice of normal range. Angiographically, splenorenal collaterals and collaterals overbridging the Ameroid constrictor were observed in all examined rats. However, esophageal varices could not be found in any rat. In the second series of the experiment, an end-to-side cavoportal shunt was created before the application of the Ameroid constrictor. This operation model was devised to increase the portal venous flow. At the same time this operation should inhibit the development of splenorenal collaterals and as expected collaterals to the superior vena cava system developed instead. However, they were not located in the esophageal wall but retroperitoneally.     

A multivariate analysis of the early dropout process.

Performed principal-component factor analyses on patient input (demographic and pretherapy expectations), therapist input (demographic), and patient perspective therapy process variables that significantly differentiated 71 early dropout from 110 nondropout outpatients at 2 community mental health centers. At 1 setting results confirm (a) the presence of selection factors in the intake process whereby the more disturbed patients, who subsequently drop out, are assigned to lower level trained therapists and (b) the proposition that many patients unilaterally terminate despite the perception of the initial session as being an overall positive experience. Findings at the 2nd setting support the more traditionally held view of "dropout" as related to patient dissatisfaction with received services. Differences in the dropout process at the 2 settings were attributed to empirically demonstrated differences in the therapists' theoretical approach to the initial interview. The proclivity of earlier investigators to conceptualize dropouts as being characteristic of a single type of patient seems to be another unfounded homogeneity myth. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)