Motivational Interviewing and Treatment Retention Among Drug User Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on retention in the context of an outpatient and drug-free heroin-program is evaluated. Heroin users (N = 40) seeking treatment were randomly assigned to MI or to control conditions. Results indicated that participants who received MI significantly increased retention rates in comparison to the control group six months after the commencement of the treatment program (50%, as against 20%). These results suggest that MI could be a useful instrument for improving retention rates in drug-free treatment programs during the initial phases of treatment, when the majority of “drop-outs” from these programs are recorded.

• Heroin use
• Motivational interviewing
• Drug-free treatment program
• Retention

Resumen

En este estudio se evalúa el efecto de la Entrevista Motivacional sobre la retención en el contexto de un programa de tratamiento externo y de larga duración. Adictos a la heroína (N = 40) en espera de tratamiento fueron asignados aleatoriamente a un grupo de MI o a una condición control. Los resultados indicaron que los pacientes que recibieron la MI incrementaron significativamente las tasas de retención en comparación al grupo control a los seis meses de comenzado el tratamiento (50% frente al 20%). Estos resultados sugieren que la MI puede ser un instrumento útil para mejorar las tasas de retención en los programas libres de drogas durante las fases iniciales del tratamiento, cuando se producen la mayoría de los abandonos.

Résumé

Dans ce travail, on évalue l’effet de l’Entrevue Motivationnel (Motivational Interview—MI) sur la rétention dans le contexte d’un programme du traitement externe et de longue durée. Toxicomanes avec dépendance à l’héroïne (N = 40) dans l’attente de traitement furent assignés de forme aléatoire à un groupe de MI ou à un groupe control. Les résultats indiquèrent que les patients qui reçurent la MI améliorent significativement le taux de rétention en comparaison avec le groupe control, six mois après d’avoir commencé le traitement (50% et 20% respectivement). Les résultats suggèrent que la MI puisse être un instrument utile pour améliorer le taux de rétention dans tous les programmes libres de drogues pendant les phases initiales du traitement, lorsque la plupart d’abandons arrivent.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roberto Secades-Villa

Roberto Secades Villa, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Psychology of Addic-tions at the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo—Spain. He is a member of the Drug-Dependence Commission of the Spanish Psychological Association, and has participated in various research projects on the assessment of drug-dependence treatment programs. His main work involves developing research projects sponsored by the Spanish government's anti-drugs agency (Plan Nacional sobre Drogas).

José Ramón Fernánde-Hermida

José Ramón Fernández Hermida, Ph.D., lectures in Clinical Assessment at the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo—Spain. For the last fourteen years he has held the post of Clinical Psychologist to the Mental Health Service of the Principality of Asturias, and has carried out various research projects on the assessment of drug-dependence treatments. His main work involves developing research projects sponsored by the Spanish government's anti-drugs agency (Plan Nacional sobre Drogas).

Cristina Arnáez-Montaraz

Cristina Arnáez Montaraz is a psychologist doing research for her doctorate in the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo. She is a member of the Drug-Dependence Commis-sion of the Spanish Psychological Association, and has worked as coordinator on several research projects sponsored by the Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (Spain).