Drug abuse and change readiness in prisoners : effect of motivational interviewing as measured by SOCRATES

Abstract

The effect of Motivational Interviewing (MI) was evaluated in a sample of incarcerated substance abusers, using the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). The design was a pre-post between-groups design. To explore the importance of feedback in MI-training participants (N = 98) were randomized to two conditions that differed in terms of feedback or no feedback to the counsellor, and received five sessions of MI. As predicted, the results indicated a significant overall pre to post effect of the MI sessions, but contrary to the prediction the treatment effect of MI was observed in the non-feedback group only. By exploring treatment effect in the light of the subject variables length of sentence, age and type of crime committed, no significant overall effect of these factors were observed. However, violence and drug offenders deviated from the rest of the samples by indicating a lower motivational level (violence) and negative effect of MI (drug). As part of the project, the psychometric properties of the SOCRATES were explored in a factor analysis for the purpose of testing the suitability of the test in a prison sample. SOCRATES indicated an overall suitability in the present sample. Adjustments are suggested in MI training programmes in prison, as well as further research on differences between offender groups.