Does motivational interviewing stages of change increase treatment retention among persons who are alcohol and other drug dependent and HIV infected?

Motivational interviewing (MI) and stages of change are clinical and theoretical techniques receiving considerable attention in the alcohol and other drug treatment arena. An attempt was made to evaluate whether the theoretical perspectives behind MI and the transtheoretical stages of change model would increase treatment retention and completion with persons who are both alcohol and other drug dependent and HIV infected. A post-test design was used to test the potential of MI to increase the number of days in treatment and completion rates. Results showed that utilizing MI and the stages of change model did not increase the number of days in treatment, nor was there an increase in treatment completion. Findings suggest that those with multiple problems requiring an array of change stages to monitor may not benefit from this model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)