The next attended session after no-show sessions in Short-Term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: a qualitative analysis of audio recordings

Background: Three types of dropouts have been identified in research using the IMPACT study dataset, which is a clinical trial in which the effectiveness of different types of therapy for adolescents with depression is compared. One type of dropout is referred to as a ‘dissatisfied’ dropout who stopped therapy because he/she did not find it helpful. However, little is known about the in-therapy process of this group. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore the dissatisfied dropout’s in-therapy process through the entry point of a reunion session, which was the first session attended after missing sessions. Method: Five reunion sessions, one for each of five adolescents with depression, were drawn from the IMPACT study. The transcript of audio recordings was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were identified: Absence and reunion, Sense of helplessness, Turning to peers, and Signs of withdrawal. The theme of a sense of helplessness was presented in three of the five patients. Signs of withdrawal was the most common theme presented in four of the five patients. A specific type of withdrawal, ‘Passive withdrawal’, was identified in one patient, which was characterised as feelings of resignation and passivity. Conclusions: Dissatisfied dropouts’ affect and relationship perspectives in the reunion sessions were explored. The implication of future research of psychotherapy with adolescents is reflected in this dissertation, which indicates that more research on dropouts and dissatisfied dropouts is needed to reduce obstacles for adolescents to attend therapy.