An exploration of readiness to change processes in a clinical sample of military service members

The purpose of this project was to examine readiness to change (RTC) processes in a sample of substance dependent military service members who completed an intensive substance abuse treatment program. The patients completed the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), which is an RTC assessment instrument, at intake and completion of the treatment program. It was predicted that patients would show positive changes in their RTC from intake to treatment completion. Scores on two of the three SOCRATES subscales were significantly improved. The findings suggest that RTC processes measurably change during treatment and further suggest that the SOCRATES is an appropriate tool for assessing short term changes in RTC.