TREATMENT DROPOUT PREDICTORS OF OEF/OIF/OND VETERANS WITHIN A MULITFACETED INPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM

Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND) dropout of psychotherapy more often than Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans. Attrition reduces the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments, resulting in fewer benefits for Veterans. Outpatient treatment studies have identified age, symptom severity, and personality characteristics along with a number of other variables as predictors of dropout. However, to the best of our knowledge, to date no study has examined rates or predictors of attrition within OEF/OIF/OND Veterans seeking voluntary inpatient treatment. This study examined 436 (Male = 296, Female = 140) OEF/OIF/OND Veterans seeking inpatient treatment for PTSD and other psychological disorders. Males (24.3%) displayed significantly higher rates of attrition than females (11.4%). Treatment completers and dropouts differed on a variety of variables including, PTSD diagnosis, rate of improvement during treatment and substance abuse. Regression results for female OEF/OIF/OND Veterans indicated five significant unique predictors of attrition (PTSD diagnosis, bi-polar diagnosis, lower rate of improvement during treatment, lower suicidality ratings and race). Caucasian females were more likely to withdraw from treatment than noncaucasians. Regression results for male OEF/OIF/OND Veterans indicated six unique predictors of attrition (no PTSD diagnosis, positive urinary drug screening, lower rate of improvement during treatment, higher service connection for mental health, younger age and higher military rank).