Drop out from out-patient mental healthcare in the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey initiative

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Previous community surveys of the drop out from mental health treatment have been carried out only in the USA and Canada.</p> <p><strong>Aims:</strong> To explore mental health treatment drop out in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys.</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Representative face-to-face household surveys were conducted among adults in 24 countries. People who reported mental health treatment in the 12 months before interview (<em>n</em> = 8482) were asked about drop out, defined as stopping treatment before the provider wanted.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Overall, drop out was 31.7%: 26.3% in high-income countries, 45.1% in upper-middle-income countries, and 37.6% in low/lower-middle-income countries. Drop out from psychiatrists was 21.3% overall and similar across country income groups (high 20.3%, upper-middle 23.6%, low/lower-middle 23.8%) but the pattern of drop out across other sectors differed by country income group. Drop out was more likely early in treatment, particularly after the second visit.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Drop out needs to be reduced to ensure effective treatment.</p>