The acceptability of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT): Meta-analysis and benchmarking of treatment refusal and treatment dropout rates

To estimate treatment refusal and treatment dropout rates for cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) and then benchmark these rates against other psychotherapies.

PROSPERO registration CRD4202017081. Systematic searches found CAT treatment studies reporting treatment refusal and dropout rates. Studies were narratively and quantitatively synthesised in a proportional random-effects meta-analysis and moderator analyses were performed. Secondary analyses compared refusal and dropout rates for CAT versus other psychotherapies via direct comparisons in the original studies and via benchmarking these rates against other acceptability meta-analyses for other psychotherapies.

Thirty-four CAT studies were included in the review. The treatment refusal rate was 15.35% (k = 9, 95% CIs 8.78-23.21). The treatment dropout rate was 18.69% (k = 34, 95% CI's 15.02-22.62). CAT generated significantly lower dropout rates relative to treatment comparators in the original studies (OR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.48-0.93). Country and younger age were significant moderators of dropout rates. CAT had a comparable treatment refusal rate and was towards the lower end of the dropout range when benchmarked against other psychotherapies.

CAT as a brief and integrative psychotherapy for individuals presenting with typically complex psychological disorders appears a relatively acceptable intervention to patients.