Dropout from intake, diagnostics, and treatment.

Characteristics of 321 children, their families, the clinical process they encountered, and their service usage were tested for relationships with dropout from intake, diagnostics, and treatment at a child guidance clinic. The results indicate clinicians need to be attentive to whom they interview in the intake phase, whom cases are assigned to, the duration of the diagnostic and treatment phases, and the length of time clients have to wait on waiting lists for services. These findings indicate the methods used for providing services to clients are the best predictors of dropout.