READINESS FOR CHANGE AND READINESS FOR HELP-SEEKING: A COMPOSITE ASSESSMENT OF CLIENT MOTIVATION

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Abstract
Aims: To investigate the correspondence between readiness for behaviour change in general and readiness for alcohol related help-seeking in particular. A related aim was to examine how, if at all, measures of dependence severity, use, and consequences were related to a composite measure depicting agreements and disagreements between general change readiness and help-seeking readiness. Methods: Non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent patients, numbering 549, from general hospitals in Germany were interviewed. Results: When taking into account both dimensions of motivation, findings indicate 42% of the subjects were characterized by different motivation levels regarding readiness for change and readiness for help-seeking. Higher help-seeking readiness was associated with higher alcohol problem severity. Readiness to change was not affected by alcohol problem severity. Conclusions: Findings underscore the need to evaluate both motivational constructs in determining clients' need and receptivity to formal help.