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Treatment engagement as a predictor of premature treatment termination and treatment outcome in a correctional outpatient sample
Author(s) -
Drieschner Klaus H.,
Verschuur Joop
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
criminal behaviour and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1471-2857
pISSN - 0957-9664
DOI - 10.1002/cbm.757
Subject(s) - outcome (game theory) , rating scale , dropout (neural networks) , psychology , odds , medicine , clinical psychology , treatment and control groups , scale (ratio) , psychiatry , logistic regression , developmental psychology , mathematics , mathematical economics , machine learning , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics
Background It is widely assumed that the outcome of correctional treatment largely depends on the patient's treatment engagement; however, evidence for this notion is scarce. Aim In this study, the Treatment Engagement Rating scale (TER) was used to investigate the relationship of a patient's treatment engagement with premature treatment termination and treatment outcome, defined as reduction of the risk of reoffending. Method Employing a prospective design, this study addressed the relationship of the behavioural treatment engagement of correctional outpatients (N = 138) with treatment non‐completion and treatment outcome, respectively. Results Treatment engagement as measured by the TER emerged as an accurate predictor of treatment non‐completion (area under the curve = 0.76; odds ratio = 4.1) and was also significantly correlated with treatment outcome (ρ = 0.41). The prediction was more accurate for sex offenders than for violent offenders, for expulsion from the treatment than for dropout, and when treatment engagement was assessed closer to the end of the treatment. Conclusions The study provides evidence that the outcome of correctional treatment depends to a substantial degree on the behavioural efforts that the patients make for the treatment. Periodic assessment of treatment engagement in correctional treatment facilities would be useful, and the TER seems to be a practical, reliable and valid instrument for this purpose. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.