Treatment Process Predictors of Program Completion or Dropout among Minority Adolescents Enrolled in a Brief Motivational Substance Abuse Intervention

This study documented significant differences in alliance in a predominantly Latino sample of adolescents who either completed or dropped out of a Guided Self-Change treatment program. Therapeutic alliance, working alliance and patient involvement were assessed via ratings of audio-recorded segments of participants' counseling sessions. Descriptive discriminant function analysis identified working alliance goals, patient participation and therapist warmth and friendliness variables as significantly predictive of completion status. These results were confirmed via follow-up logistic regression analyses. The use of brief clinical tools to monitor and manage alliance among adolescents receiving treatment who are at risk for drop-out is discussed.