On dropouts and refusers in child psychotherapy: reply to Garfield.

We agree with Garfield that there is value in keeping criteria for dropout groups consistent across studies. Because our methods served this goal, we are puzzled at this part of his critique. The term dropout, as used in our study, might reasonably be replaced with Garfield's term refuser; however, the procedural realities of our child clinics make both terms appropriate. At Garfield's suggestion, we present new data on those youngsters he considers true dropouts; analyses reveal that the results we previously reported would have been the same had we used this group.