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Improved Clinical Functioning for Patients Receiving Fee Discounts That Reward Treatment Engagement
Author(s) -
Stanley Ian H.,
Chu Carol,
Brown Tiffany A.,
Sawyer Kathryn A.,
Joiner Thomas E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22236
Subject(s) - attendance , incentive , psychology , global assessment of functioning , intervention (counseling) , rating scale , finance , clinical psychology , physical therapy , psychiatry , medicine , developmental psychology , business , economics , cognition , microeconomics , economic growth
Objective Financial incentives may have utility in promoting psychotherapy attendance and adherence, leading to improved clinical functioning. This study presents results from a novel application of financial incentives—a progressively lowered pay scale that rewards therapy attendance and adherence. Method Overall, 110 outpatients participated; 56 patients (51%) were enrolled in the financial incentives condition and received a 5% fee discount—applied iteratively across sessions—if they followed defined criteria (e.g., completed homework). Results There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of the number of sessions attended, therapy duration, and number of no‐shows and cancellations. However, adjusting for Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) at intake, patients receiving the financial incentives had significantly higher GAF rating at termination compared with those who did not receive the intervention. Conclusions Financial incentives that reward therapy attendance and adherence with discounted fees is associated with improved clinical functioning.