Factors influencing continuation in a behavioral therapy

One hundred and forty-seven depressed women who either completed, dropped-out of or refused a 10-week, self-control, group therapy program were compared on: demographic variables, depression indices, depression theory-related performances, personality variables and attitudes about therapy. Compared with treatment Completers, treatment Refusers presented a more acute crisis, reported a rapid onset of depression, had experienced fewer prior depressive episodes and were most likely to receive a diagnosis of situational (reactive) depression. Results also indicated that individuals of higher SES and those who endorsed expectancies congruent with the offered treatment rationale were most likely to continue in treatment.