This study tested the hypotheses that approval-dependent individuals tend prematurely to terminate psychotherapy, and are rated by therapists as more defensive and less improved than patients less approval-dependent. 85 psychiatric outpatients completed the Marlowe and Crowne Social Desirability scale (the measure of need for approval) and rated their improvement in psychotherapy. Therapists rated 30 of these patients on defensiveness, attitude towards patient, patient's attitude towards therapist, improvement, and satisfaction with therapy. Additional measures included diagnosis, social class, and ordinal position. Results confirmed the hypotheses. The high need for approval group terminated significantly (p < .005) earlier. Approval-motivated patients were generally given more negative ratings by therapists. Approval-motivated females rated themselves as more improved. Ordinal position and social class failed to predict stay in therapy. The implications of these findings were discussed. (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)