Readiness to Change in a Clinical Sample of Problem Drinkers: Relation to Alcohol Use, Self-Efficacy, and Treatment Outcome

Abstract

According to the transtheoretical model of behaviour change, individuals addicted to psychotropic drugs typically cycle through a sequence of five discrete stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) before achieving sustained long-term abstinence and moderation, respectively. A number of English-language questionnaires have been developed to assess client motivation in accordance with the stages of change approach. The present study aimed to expand the research on the transtheoretical model by establishing the factor structure of a German-language version of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) in a large sample of alcohol-dependent inpatients (n = 350). Furthermore, the relation of client motivation to alcohol use, self-efficacy and treatment outcome at 3-month follow-up was examined. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three separate dimensions of readiness to change (Taking Steps, Recognition, and Ambivalence). The factorial structure of the German-language SOCRATES corresponded almost exactly to that of the original version. Readiness to change accounted for 9.4% of the variance in treatment outcome. Moreover, readiness to change was positively related to pretreatment self-efficacy.

Motivation to Change as a Mediator for the Longitudinal Relationships of Gender and Alcohol Severity With One-Year Drinking Outcome

“…This fi nding is consistent with the majority of studies that report no gender differences on measures of readiness to change (Blume et al, 2006;Demmel et al, 2004;Rumpf et al, 1999;Shealy et al, 2007). In a sample of heavy drinkers, Satre and colleagues (2011) also found that gender did not predict alcohol problem recognition.…”

“…There is considerable cross-sectional evidence that problem recognition and taking action are correlated with drinking severity and drinking outcomes (Bertholet et al, 2009;Demmel et al, 2004). However, although some of these studies reported that high scores on the ambivalence/ problem recognition factor was a signifi cant correlate of abstinence, number of drinks, number of drinks per drinking day, number of heavy drinking days, and number of negative drinking consequences, most studies were not able to model levels of alcohol severity on dimensional measures of motivation to change and subsequent drinking behavior over time .…”

“…The majority of studies report no gender differences on measures of motivation to change (Blume et al, 2006;Demmel et al, 2004;Rumpf et al, 1999;Satre et al, 2011;Shealy et al, 2007).…”

Readiness to change is a predictor of reduced substance use involvement: Findings from a randomized controlled trial of patients attending South African emergency departments

“…This highlights the value of screening all patients who present with injuries for possible substance-related problems as these injuries may offer a window of opportunity for intervening with patients when they are more likely to recognise the negative consequences of continued substance use. In addition and similar to other studies [22,36,55], we found that greater problem severity (as reflected in more symptoms of depression and more complex substance use problems, such as methamphetamine use) was positively associated with more recognition that change was needed. Even though our findings suggest that individuals with greater substance use problem severity may not respond as well to BIs interventions as those with less severe problems, we are not suggesting that these individuals are not provided with a BI.…”

Prediction of Treatment Outcome in a Clinical Sample of Problem Drinkers

“…Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale. A German-language version of the SOCRATES (SOCRATES-G [33], [34]) was used to assess client motivation in accordance with the transtheoretical model. The SOCRATES-G comprises 19 items reflecting readiness to change drinking behavior.…”