Motivation and readiness for therapeutic community treatment: Psychometric evaluation of the Dutch translation of the Circumstances, Motivation, Readiness, and Suitability scales

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2006.02.007 Byline: Veerle Soyez (a), George De Leon (b), Yves Rosseel (c), Eric Broekaert (a) Keywords: Treatment readiness and motivation; Assessment; Therapeutic communities; Psychometric properties; CMRS Abstract: There is empirical evidence that treatment motivation and readiness are closely linked to retention. Several instruments have been developed to measure these concepts; such instruments can reliably assess the stages of motivation and readiness, and predict treatment retention and outcome. However, limited efforts have been undertaken in Europe to translate those instruments and to determine their reliability and validity. In this study, the psychometric properties of a Dutch translation of the Circumstances, Motivation, Readiness, and Suitability (CMRS) scales by De Leon and Jainchill [Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 8 (1986) 203-208] and the shortened CMR Intake Version are illustrated in a Flemish sample of therapeutic community residents (n = 207). Exploratory factor analyses confirm three CMR subscales, although confirmatory factor analysis reveals only a moderate fit for both the CMRS and the CMR. In contrast, the predictive power of the instrument is strong, specifically for 1-year retention. Significant correlations were found between CMRS measures and age, drug severity, legal referral, and social problems. It is concluded that the Dutch translation of the CMRS and the CMR can be employed as a valid indicator of treatment motivation and readiness, although additional research concerning factorial structures is needed. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Orthopedagogics, Ghent University, H. Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium (b) Center for Therapeutic Community Research (CTCR), National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd street, New York, NY 10010, USA (c) Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, H. Dunantlaan 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium Article History: Received 15 April 2005; Revised 16 January 2006; Accepted 8 February 2006