The Role of Ego Development in Predicting Psychotherapy Attrition

Psychotherapy attrition is a persistent problem facing community based outpatient mental health clinics. The present study examined factors that predicted psychotherapy attrition. These factors include demographics variables, psychopathology, and ego development. Participants were 309 individuals seeking psychotherapy at an outpatient clinic in a large urban university. Participants ranged in age from 18 years to 60 years. Results showed that individuals with Antisocial features attended a lower percentage of scheduled appointments. The major finding of this study was that demographic variables do not predict commitment to therapy unless a substantial commitment is made (\u3e50 sessions). Findings indicated that age, more education, and higher ego development characterized those individuals that exhibited long term commitment to treatment. Clinical implications and directions for future research were discussed. Keywords: Psychotherapy Attrition, Ego Development, Psychopatholog