Patients’ Reasons for “No Shows” and Premature Termination of Treatment at an Outpatient Mental Health Program

Abstract

One in five Canadians currently experience mental health problems, and although effective psychotherapy treatment is currently available, patients’ decision to end therapy before completing treatment impacts limited resources. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 15 patients who either did not attend a scheduled intake appointment or had dropped out of service prematurely from an outpatient mental health clinic. Overall, the overarching themes identified were overall experience with service and access, multiple factors and external circumstances, experience with group structure, group processes and interactions, and age-related differences. Younger participants shared a need for flexible and spontaneous service.