What can dropouts teach us about retention in eating disorder treatment studies?
Hoste RR; Zaitsoff S; Hewell K; le Grange D Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. rhoste@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu OBJECTIVE: To describe strategies used to retain adolescents with bulimia nervosa (BN) in a randomized clinical trial, and to compare treatment completers and dropouts on baseline demographic and symptom severity information. METHOD: Adolescents with BN (N = 80) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, and Beck Depression Inventory prior to beginning treatment. RESULTS: Several strategies were used to promote treatment retention (e.g., encouraging parental involvement in treatment, prompt rescheduling of cancelled appointments). Six participants (7.50%) voluntarily dropped out of treatment and three additional participants (3.75%) were asked to terminate treatment for medical/psychiatric reasons.
