Readiness for change and readiness for help-seeking: a composite assessment of client motivation.

AIMS To investigate the correspondence between readiness for behaviour change in general and readiness for alcohol related help-seeking in particular. A related aim was to examine how, if at all, measures of dependence severity, use, and consequences were related to a composite measure depicting agreements and disagreements between general change readiness and help-seeking readiness. METHODS Non-treatment seeking alcohol-dependent patients, numbering 549, from general hospitals in Germany were interviewed. RESULTS When taking into account both dimensions of motivation, findings indicate 42% of the subjects were characterized by different motivation levels regarding readiness for change and readiness for help-seeking. Higher help-seeking readiness was associated with higher alcohol problem severity. Readiness to change was not affected by alcohol problem severity. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the need to evaluate both motivational constructs in determining clients' need and receptivity to formal help.