Dropout from guideline-recommended psychological treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Many patients drop out of guideline-recommended treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet there has been little systematic investigation of this issue. We aimed to examine dropout proportions from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of guideline-recommended treatments for PTSD and whether proportions differed by type of treatment or trauma, PTSD severity or chronicity, or medication being permitted. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of guideline-recommended treatments for PTSD. Results: Eighty-five trials, with data for 6804 participants were included in the meta-analyses. The mean dropout proportion for guideline-recommended treatment was 20.9% ..