Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between posttreatment motivation to change as measured by the Readiness to Change Questionnaire Treatment Version and drinking outcomes 9 months after the conclusion of treatment for alcohol problems.
METHOD: Data from 392 participants in the United Kingdom Alcohol Treatment Trial were used to fit structural equation models investigating relationships between motivation to change pre- and posttreatment and 5 outcomes 9 months later. The models included pathways through changes in drinking behavior during treatment and adjustment for sociodemographic information.
RESULTS: Greater posttreatment motivation (being in action vs. preaction) was associated with 3 times higher odds of the most stringent definition of positive outcome (being abstinent or entirely a nonproblem drinker) 9 months later (odds ratio = 3.10, 95% confidence interval [1.83, 5.25]). A smaller indirect effect of pretreatment motivation on this outcome was seen from pathways through drinking behavior during treatment and posttreatment motivation (probit coefficient = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [0.03, 0.14]). A similar pattern of results was seen for other outcomes evaluated.
CONCLUSION: Posttreatment motivation to change has hitherto been little studied and is identified here as a clearly important predictor of longer term treatment outcome.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 232-7 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of consulting and clinical psychology |
Volume | 83 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adult
- Alcoholism
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Motivation
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Treatment Outcome
- United Kingdom
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Multicenter Study