Drop out from mental health treatment in the Saudi national mental health survey

This paper presents an overview of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and a discussion of the methodological research on which the development of the instrument was based. The WMH‐CIDI includes a screening module and 40 sections that focus on diagnoses (22 sections), functioning (four sections), treatment (two sections), risk factors (four sections), socio‐demographic correlates (seven sections), and methodological factors (two sections). Innovations compared to earlier versions of the CIDI include expansion of the diagnostic sections, a focus on 12‐month as well as lifetime disorders in the same interview, detailed assessment of clinical severity, and inclusion of information on treatment, risk factors, and consequences. A computer‐assisted version of the interview is available along with a direct data entry software system that can be used to keypunch responses to the paper‐and‐pencil version of the interview. Computer programs that generate diagnoses are also available based on both ICD‐10 and DSM‐IV criteria. Elaborate CD‐ROM‐based training materials are available to teach interviewers how to administer the interview as well as to teach supervisors how to monitor the quality of data collection. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of mental health treatment among individuals with common mental disorders.

Premature discontinuation from therapy is a widespread problem that impedes the delivery of otherwise effective psychological interventions. The most recent comprehensive review found an average dropout rate of 47% across 125 studies (Wierzbicki & Pekarik, 1993); however, given a number of changes in the field over the past 2 decades, an updated meta-analysis is needed to examine the current phenomenon of therapy dropout. A series of meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted in order to identify the rate at which treatment dropout occurs and predictors of its occurrence. This review included 669 studies representing 83,834 clients. Averaging across studies using a random effects model, the weighted dropout rate was 19.7%, 95% CI [18.7%, 20.7%]. Further analyses, also using random effects models, indicated that the overall dropout rate was moderated by client diagnosis and age, provider experience level, setting for the intervention, definition of dropout, type of study (efficacy vs. effectiveness), and other design variables. Dropout was not moderated by orientation of therapy, whether treatment was provided in an individual or group format, and a number of client demographic variables. Although premature discontinuation is occurring at a lower rate than what was estimated 20 years ago (Wierzbicki & Pekarik, 1993), it is still a significant problem, with about 1 in every 5 clients dropping out of therapy. Special efforts should be made to decrease premature discontinuation, particularly with clients who are younger, have a personality or eating disorder diagnosis, and are seen by trainee clinicians. © 2012 American Psychological Association