Motivation for Treatment and Motivation for Change in Substance-Dependent Patients with Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between motivation for treatment and for change, and to explore their role in the prediction of treatment completion. The sample was composed of 560 predominantly polydrug-using inpatients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Motivation for treatment was assessed with the Motivation for Treatment Scales, and motivation for change was measured with the Readiness to Change Questionnaire. Patients indicated strong motivation to change illegal drug and alcohol use. In initial factor analysis, motivation for treatment and for change did not load on the same factors, confirming that these are distinct domains. Four categories were discerned with respect to readiness for treatment and for change, with low agreement between the two. In performing survival analysis, we found that being in readiness category 4 (RT↑RC↑) was associated with a greater chance of remaining in treatment for a period of 105 days without premature attrition (Log Rank chi-sq=5.000; p=0.02). To a limited extent, intake measures of motivation can be used to predict attrition from treatment. Clinicians can use motivation assessment both for clinical purposes and in the prediction of those who need extra monitoring due to increased risk of premature attrition.

Inpatients in substance use treatment with co-occurring psychiatric disorders: a prospective cohort study of characteristics and relapse predictors

“…Our finding concerning the reduced relapse risk associated with higher baseline motivation was expected, and it is in accordance with a previous study reporting a positive association between high initial readiness for substance use change and treatment outcome (i.e. retention) among inpatients with COD [26]. Our results suggest that baseline motivation may be a particularly relevant risk factor of relapse among these patients.…”

“…These variables included younger age [15,18,19], lower education, and unstable living arrangements [20], whereas previous research on putative gender differences in SUD treatment outcomes revealed mixed results [21][22][23]. Among psychological variables, both baseline motivation [24][25][26] and baseline mental distress level (i.e. symptoms of anxiety/depression) [24,[27][28][29] have been found to be associated with SUD treatment outcomes.…”

Evaluation of Motivation for the Treatment of Drug Addicts with Personality Disorders

“…The first objective of the study was to determine the properties of the MTQ-8. The RA confirmed the adequate construct validity and the structure of the questionnaire in two dimensions represented by the subscales proposed by van , also identified by de Weert-van et al (2015): Motivation to initiate Treatment and Readiness for Change. The analyses carried out showed that both subscales are adequate measurement instruments, although it was necessary to merge Items 5 and 7 in the latter subscale.…”

Stages of Change Model has Limited Value in Explaining the Change in Use of Cannabis among Adolescent Participants in an Efficacious Motivational Interviewing Intervention

“…Related to this accumulating evidence is recent Dutch research of substance-dependent patients with co-occurring psychiatric disorders (De Weert-Van Oene et al 2015). In this research, "motivation for treatment" was analytically distinguished from "motivation for change."…”