A latent class approach to treatment readiness corresponds to a transtheoretical (“Stages of Change”) model

• Published in: Journal of substance abuse treatment Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 249 - 256
• Main Authors: Harrell, Paul Truman, Ph.D, Trenz, R.C., Ph.D, Scherer, M., Ph.D, Martins, S.S., Ph.D, Latimer, W.W., Ph.D., MPH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Baltimore; Biological and medical sciences; Cannabis; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders - psychology; Cocaine-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal; Drug addiction; Female; Heroin; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Latent class analysis; Male; Marijuana Abuse - psychology; Marijuana Abuse - rehabilitation; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Models, Psychological; Motivation; Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Opioids; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Readiness; Stages of change; Statistical methods; Substance abuse; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance abuse treatment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment motivation; Treatments; Young Adult; Baltimore; United States > US; Baltimore Maryland; Substance abuse treatment; Cocaine; Treatment motivation; Latent class analysis; Stages of change; Heroin; Human; Drug addiction; Statistical analysis; Poison withdrawal; Illicit drug; Behavior change; Transtheorical model; Substance abuse; Ester; Treatment; Addiction; Motivation; Drug of abuse; Public health
• ISSN: 0740-5472; 1873-6483
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2013.04.004

Abstract Motivation for treatment among people with substance use problems is an important aspect of treatment success. Models for treatment motivation are widely debated. Latent Class Analysis can help to demonstrate the appropriateness of available models. The current study utilizes Latent Class Analysis to analyze treatment readiness statements as they relate to the reduction or cessation of marijuana, cocaine, and opioid use among 539 cocaine and opioid users recruited from the community of Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants completed an in-person structured interview including demographic questions, a treatment readiness questionnaire with items on Intention to Stop Use (ISU) and Problem Recognition (PR), current substance abuse treatment utilization, and urinalysis testing for marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Latent class models were fit to the treatment readiness questionnaire. A four-class model provided the best fit with one class low on both ISU and PR (“Pre-contemplative”), a second class low on ISU but high on PR (“Contemplative”), a third class high on both (“Preparation/Action”), and a final class high on ISU but low on PR (“Post-Action”). Compared to the “Contemplative” class, the “Pre-contemplative” class was significantly more likely to be positive for marijuana, and the “Post-Action” class was significantly less likely to be positive for opioids. The “Preparation/Action” class was significantly more likely to be in treatment. With the exception of the “Post-Action” class, the analysis appears similar to the “Stages of Change” model and suggests that problem recognition and intention to stop use are important domains in the model. However, further longitudinal research is needed to assess predictive validity of model.