Loss and readiness to change substance abuse.

Little empirical study has been done on specific content targets for cognitive-behavioral interventions at each stage of change among substance abusers. Clinical observation has noted losses to be associated with decisions to change, but this relationship has not been studied empirically. 110 dually diagnosed psychiatric inpatients completed self-report questionnaires on losses and Readiness to Change. Total number of losses correlated with precontemplation, contemplation, and overall readiness to change scores. In addition, several individual losses accounted for statistically significant variability in each stage of change. These data suggest that focus upon specific losses may motivate change in dually diagnosed substance abusers.