title: The predictive validity of the university of rhode island change assessment questionnaire in a heroin-addicted polysubstance abuse sample.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the predictive utility of the stages-of-change scales of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA; E. A. McConnaughy, J. O. Prochaska, & W. F. Velicer, 1983) questionnaire in a heroin-addicted polysubstance-abusing treatment sample. Ninety-six participants completed the URICA at the beginning of a 29-week treatment period that required thrice-weekly urine drug screens. Multivariate multiple regression analysis indicated that after controlling for demographic variables, substance abuse severity, and treatment assignment, the stages-of- change scales added significant variance to the prediction of heroin- and cocaine-free urine samples. The Maintenance scale was positively related to cocaine-free urines and length in treatment. The implications of these findings for treatment and for measuring readiness among individuals using multiple substances while taking maintenance medications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. m.j.henderson@wayne.edu
authors.forename: Melinda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Saules
authors.forename: Luke W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Galen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities