Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-45l2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T22:06:32.790Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An evaluation of a group-based motivational intervention for substance misusers in an Irish forensic setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2015

S. Harper  and
A. O’Rourke
S. Harper*
Affiliation:
Psychology Service, Irish Prison Service, Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland
A. O’Rourke
Affiliation:
Psychology Service, Irish Prison Service, Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: S. Harper, Irish Prison Service, Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, Ireland. (Email: spharper@irishprisons.ie)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a 12-session group-based motivational intervention for substance misusers in a prison setting. The intervention aimed to increase both participants awareness of problem substance use and motivation to change their substance use behaviour.

Method

Participants were recruited for the intervention through active outreach in the prison. Participants of the intervention group completed a structured interview before the group commencing and standardised pre- and post-outcome measures. The results of the intervention group (n=31) were compared with a waiting list control group (n=11).

Results

Non-parametric analysis showed retention rates on this programme at 2, 4 and 6 weeks were 88%, 79% and 76%, respectively. Outcome data were consistent with the predicted direction for the treatment group compared with the wait-list control with significant between-group differences found on ambivalence and taking steps scores.

Conclusion

This group-based intervention demonstrated positive levels of client engagement and retention. The intervention was also successful in reducing participant ambivalence about their drug use. Implications for service provision are discussed and design limitations of the present study are considered. Overall, findings indicate the potential utility of a group-based motivational intervention for substance misusers in forensic settings.

Keywords

Drug treatmentforensicgroup programmemotivation
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , December 2015 , pp. 313 - 318
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ball, JC, Ross, A (1991). The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Patients, Programs, Services and Outcome. Springer-Verlag: Vienna.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burke, S (2008). Unpublished manuscript. Submitted in part fulfilment of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin.Google Scholar
Burke, BL, Arkowitz, H, Menchola, M (2003). The efficacy of motivational interviewing: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 71, 843–861.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Field, A (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS, 3rd edn. Sage Publication Ltd: London.Google Scholar
Hollin, CR (1989). Psychology and Crime: An Introduction to Criminological Psychology. Routledge: London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Irish Prison Service (IPS) (2007). Keeping drugs out of prison, Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy, IPS, Longford, Co. Longford, Ireland.Google Scholar
Lally, C (2008). 40,000 positive drug tests in prisons. Irish Times, p. 1, 18 February.Google Scholar
Miller, WR (1996). Motivational interviewing: research, practise and puzzles. Addictive Behaviours 21, 835–842.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, WR, Rollnick, S (2002). Motivational Interviewing, Preparing People for Change, 2nd edn. Guildford Press: New York, NY.Google Scholar
Miller, WR, Tonigan, JS (1996). Assessing drinkers motivation for change. The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). Psychology of Addictive Behaviours 10, 81–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, WR, Zweben, A, DiClemente, C, Rychtarik, RG (1995). Motivational Enhancement Therapy Manual: A Clinical Research Guide for Therapists Treating Individuals with Alcohol Abuse and Dependence, Project Match Monograph Series, Vol. 2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland, USA.Google Scholar
O’Mahony, P (2008). Key Issues for Drugs Policy in Irish Prisons. Drug Policy Action Group: Dublin.Google Scholar
Prochaska, JO, DiClemente, CC (1984). The Transtheoretical Approach: Crossing the Traditional Boundaries of Therapy. Krieger: Malabar, FL.Google Scholar
Ryan, RM, Plant, RW, O’Malley, S (1995). Health Behaviour Change: A Guide for Practitioners. Churchill Livingstone: New York, NY.Google Scholar
Saunders, B, Wilkinson, C, Phillips, M (1995). The impact of a brief motivational intervention with opiate users attending a methadone programme. Addiction 90, 415–424.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Velasquez, MM, Maurer, GG, Crouch, C, DiClemente, C (2001). Group Treatment for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual. The Guilford Press: New York.Google Scholar
Zweben, A, Zuckoff, A (2002). Motivational interviewing and treatment adherence. In Motivational Interviewing, Preparing People for Change, 2nd edn. ed. W. R. Miller and S. Rollnick), pp. 299–319. Guildford Press: New York, NY.Google Scholar