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The Readiness and Motivation Interview (RMI) is a semistructured interview measure of readiness and motivation to change that can be used for all eating disorder diagnoses. The RMI has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and has both clinical and predictive utility in adult samples. This study examined the psychometric properties of the RMI in a younger population, namely, 12- to 18-year-old girls with eating disorders. Study participants (N = 65) completed the RMI and measures of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Adolescents with eating disorders were able to conceptualize and articulate their readiness for change and to report the extent to which change efforts were for themselves versus for others. RMI readiness profiles across eating disorder symptom domains in adolescents were comparable to those in adults, with higher reported readiness to change binge eating than to change dietary restriction or compensatory strategies. Differences in internal consistency between adult and adolescent samples are discussed. Interviewing adolescents early in treatment about readiness may assist clinicians in forming an alliance with this difficult-to-engage population, while also providing valuable information for treatment planning.

Readiness for change, as assessed by the Readiness and Motivation Interview (RMI), predicts a number of clinical outcome variables in eating disorders including enrollment in intensive treatment, symptom change, dropout, and relapse. Although clinically useful, the training and administration of the RMI is time consuming. The purpose of this research was to (a) develop a self-report, symptom-specific version of the RMI, the Readiness and Motivation Questionnaire (RMQ), that can be used to assess readiness for change across all eating disorder diagnoses and (b) establish its psychometric properties. The RMQ provides stage of change, internality, and confidence scores for each of 4 eating disorder symptom domains (restriction, bingeing, and cognitive and compensatory behaviors). Individuals (N = 244) with current eating disorder diagnoses completed the RMQ and measures of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Similar to the RMI scores, readiness scores on the RMQ differed according to symptom domain. Regarding criterion validity, RMQ scores were significantly associated with ratings of anticipated difficulty of recovery activities and completion of recovery activities. The RMQ contributed significant unique variance to anticipated difficulty of recovery activities, beyond those accounted for by the RMI and a questionnaire measure of global readiness. The RMQ is thus an acceptable alternative to the RMI, providing global and domain-specific readiness information when time or cost prohibits use of an interview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Individuals with eating disorders are often ambivalent about recovery, and previous research has shown that readiness for change predicts enrollment in intensive treatment, symptom change, dropout, and relapse. Given the demonstrated importance of readiness for change, researchers and clinicians have turned to investigating interventions designed to enhance motivation. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficacy of Readiness and Motivation Therapy (RMT), a five-session individual preparatory intervention for individuals with eating disorders. Method Participants completed the Readiness and Motivation Interview and measures of eating disorder symptomatology, self-esteem, and psychiatric symptoms at intake. One hundred eighty-one participants were randomly assigned to the treatment (RMT) or wait-list control condition and were reassessed at 6-week and 3-month follow-up; 113 completed assessments at all three time points and primary analyses were based on these individuals. Results Surprisingly, improvements in readiness for change, depression, drive for thinness, and bulimia symptoms occurred over time in both RMT and control conditions. However, at post and at follow-up, individuals who received RMT were less likely to have high ambivalence than were those from the control condition. Discussion RMT may be of benefit to highly reluctant, clinically challenging patients and help them make better use of future, action-oriented treatment. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine factors associated with improvements in readiness for change as a function of body mass index (BMI) in individuals assessed for eating disorders treatment. Method: Participants (n = 128) completed the Readiness and Motivation Interview (RMI) and measures of psychiatric and eating disorder symptoms, quality of life, and self-esteem at baseline and at 5-month follow-up. Results: Participants whose readiness for change showed improvements in psychiatric symptom severity, global self-esteem, and in the importance of friendships as a determinant of self-esteem. Only those with a normal baseline BMI (20 kg/m2 or greater) improved in eating disorder symptoms and quality of life, and reported increased importance of personal development and decreased importance of shape and weight as determinants of self-esteem. Conclusion: Correlates of readiness differed between low and normal BMI participants, suggesting that weight status may be an important variable to consider in preparing highly ambivalent individuals for treatment. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Readiness and Motivation Interview (RMI) is a semistructured interview measure of readiness and motivation to change that can be used for all eating disorder diagnoses. The RMI has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and has both clinical and predictive utility in adult samples. This study examined the psychometric properties of the RMI in a younger population, namely, 12- to 18-year-old girls with eating disorders. Study participants (N = 65) completed the RMI and measures of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Adolescents with eating disorders were able to conceptualize and articulate their readiness for change and to report the extent to which change efforts were for themselves versus for others. RMI readiness profiles across eating disorder symptom domains in adolescents were comparable to those in adults, with higher reported readiness to change binge eating than to change dietary restriction or compensatory strategies. Differences in internal consistency between adult and adolescent samples are discussed. Interviewing adolescents early in treatment about readiness may assist clinicians in forming an alliance with this difficult-to-engage population, while also providing valuable information for treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a model for change that draws upon motivational and cognitive-behavioural theories. It is suggested that maladaptive beliefs hold individuals captive in destructive self-perpetuating cycles dominated by the illness. In the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, inquiry and experimentation can lead to the reformulation of maladaptive beliefs, and to the development, reprioritization and/or strengthening of higher values. A clear cohesive system of higher values allows individuals to make autonomous life decisions, which reduces the need for maladaptive coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop a Decisional Balance (DB) measure of readiness for change in anorexia nervosa. A total of 246 women with anorexia nervosa completed a 60-item DB scale. A 3-factor solution provided the best fit for the DB data, which reduced the scale to 30 items. Two of these, namely Burdens and Benefits, resembled the pro and con factors found in previous research. The third factor, Functional Avoidance, was unique to the decisional balance literature; it included items reflecting the ways that anorexia nervosa provides a way to avoid dealing with aversive emotions, challenges, and responsibilities. The DB demonstrated good internal consistency and acceptable test–retest reliability. This measure could be used to help us better understand the shifts that occur as individuals with anorexia nervosa develop a desire to change. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emphasizes the importance of motivational approaches in managing eating disorders. Clinical assumptions underlying motivational therapy; Difference of motivational principle from other treatment principles; Influence of cultural, political and environmental factors on motivational therapy.

Ambivalence about recovery is a central feature of anorexia nervosa, and resistance to recovery in the eating disorders is common. Careful assessment of motivation and readiness may be useful in treatment planning in order to reduce the likelihood of dropout and treatment noncompliance. This paper describes the Readiness and Motivation Interview for Eating Disorders (RMI), a semi-structured assessment tool that elicits information on individuals' experience of, and attachment to their symptoms. The RMI allows for readiness and motivation for change status to be determined, and assesses the extent to which change, when occurring, is for internal versus external reasons. In contrast to more commonly used global measures of stage of change, the RMI provides detailed symptom-specific information about readiness and motivation in the eating disorders. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]