Dropout From Trauma-Focused Treatment for Intimate Partner Violence Against Women

Abstract

The current study aimed to analyze the characteristics, and the factors associated with dropout from a trauma-focused (TF) cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) tailored for intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) that has been shown to be effective. Ninety-one female survivors of IPVAW entered a randomized controlled trial comparing two versions of the TF-CBT, both delivered in eight weekly sessions and group format. A total of 37.4% of women who entered treatment dropped out during treatment; an additional 7.1% dropped out after randomization and before starting treatment. There were no significant differences in dropout rate between conditions. Most of the dropouts occurred before session 4 (68.3%) and were related to practical/external difficulties (63.4%). Regarding sociodemographic features, dropping out significantly related to younger age, being migrant and being unemployed or active working. For characteristics of violence, dropouts significantly differed from completers in time elapsed since the last violence episode (lower in dropouts). Finally, regarding their clinical state, women that dropped out scored significantly higher in posttraumatic cognitions and anxiety. Comparisons between dropouts due to practical/external difficulties and due to treatment-related issues showed significant differences in origin (more dropouts related to practical difficulties in migrant women) and time since last episode of violence (lower in dropouts due to treatment-related issues). Data highlight the need for personalized retention strategies for younger and migrant women and measures to facilitate the attendance to sessions prior to entering a TF-therapy. This is an analysis of data collected as part of a clinical trial preregistered as ISRCTN73702156.