Relationship between excuses and dropout at a mental health center.

Data from 29 adults and 3 children in a parent training project show that more dropouts than continuers tended to give 1 or more excuses at some point from the intake telephone call to the 5th clinic appointment. By that time, 53% of Ss had dropped out. Comparison of this dropout rate with the identification rate for dropouts suggests the advantage of using excuses to identify dropouts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)