title: Applying motivational interviewing principles in a modified interpersonal group for comorbid addiction.
abstract: The application of motivational interviewing (MI) principles in modified interpersonal group therapy (MIGT) addresses two gaps in the literature. First, it explicitly extends MIGT to non-abstinent, addicted patients who are in the precontemplative and contemplative stages of change in contrast to most MIGT models where abstinence is usually required. Second, it provides a novel, process-oriented group intervention for MI, in contrast to current applications of group-based MI which are more structured in their format. The main modification in technique was to prioritize the horizontal exploration of substance use disclosures with a focus on the here-and-now experience of disclosure and the interpersonal impact on the group, in order to: (1) encourage members to openly discuss their ambivalence and shifting motivational states, (2) harness the evocative impact of substance use disclosures between members to elicit change talk (self-motivational statements), and (3) selectively reinforce change talk when it emerges from these exchanges. The authors illustrate these concepts with a case report of an open-ended MIGT group with comorbid mental illness and addiction.
authors: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Departmentof Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jan_malat@camh.net
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Malat
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Morrow
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Stewart
mesh_terms: D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D009042:Motivation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*