Para documentar la permanencia en tratamiento de pacientes de una institución de salud mental y sus motivos de abandono, se analizaron 314 expedientes clínicos (177 mujeres y 137 hom-bres). Se contactó al total de pacientes localizables ( 64) en un análisis retrospectivo que cubrió siete años. Los resultados revelaron un porcentaje acumulativo de abandono del tratamiento su-perior a 70% sin tendencias atribuibles a edad, sexo o lugar de residencia. La categoría diagnóstica or~:ánico mostró un porcentaje de abandono ligeramente superior aunque inconsis-tente de año a año. Los motivos de abandono más frecuentes incluyeron los siguientes: sentirse mejor (19 .6% ), atenderse en otra institución (17 .4% ), falta de recursos económicos (1 0.9% ), motivos no tipificados (7.6%), efectos colaterales de medicamentos prescritos (6.5%) y maltra-to del tratante (6.5%). Se destaca la ne...

This study examined treatment permanence of psychiatric outpatients, and identified reasons expressed by dropouts for discontinuing treatment. The clinical records of 314 patients (177 female arid 137 male) were examined including a telephone follow-up on all former patients who could be found (64). The retrospective analysis spanned up to seven years after dropout. Results revealed a cumulative dropout percentage greater than 70% without identifiable trends attributable to patient gender, age, or place of residence. Diagnostic categories showed slightly higher but inconsistent dropout by "organic" patients. The most frequent reasons for stopping treatment included: feeling better (19.6% ), receiving treatment elsewhere ( 17.4% ), lacking financia! resources (10.9%), non-typified reasons (7.6%), medication side effects (6.5%), and caregiver rudeness (6.5%). Results emphasize the...

This study examined treatment permanence of psychiatric outpatients, and identified reasons expressed by dropouts for discontinuing treatment. The clinical records of 314 patients (177 female arid 137 male) were examined including a telephone follow-up on all former patients who could be found (64). The retrospective analysis spanned up to seven years after dropout. Results revealed a cumulative dropout percentage greater than 70% without identifiable trends attributable to patient gender, age, or place of residence. Diagnostic categories showed slightly higher but inconsistent dropout by "organic" patients. The most frequent reasons for stopping treatment included: feeling better (19.6% ), receiving treatment elsewhere ( 17.4% ), lacking financia! resources (10.9%), non-typified reasons (7.6%), medication side effects (6.5%), and caregiver rudeness (6.5%). Results emphasize the...