Correlates of stages of change for substance abuse among psychiatric outpatients

Brief algorithms are used to determine stage of change; however, psychometric support in substance users other than smokers is minimal. The authors examined the reliability and validity of a self-report algorithm in a sample of 84 persons with both psychiatric and substance use disorders. A 1-week retest resulted in 75% of persons being reassigned to the same stage. Compared with precontemplators, participants in the preparation stage reported higher problem recognition, steps taken toward change, cons of using, and benefits of quitting. The pros of using did not differ across stages. The action stage was marked by less frequent substance use and lower perceived costs of quitting. These results support the reliability and validity of staging algorithms in patients with comorbid disorders.