Assessing drinkers' motivation for change: The stages of change readiness and treatment eagerness scale (SOCRATES)

The Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) is an instrument designed to assess motivation for change in problem drinkers. Data from a multisite clinical sample (N = 1,672) and a test-retest study (N = 82) provided support for the reliability of SOCRATES scales. Factor analyses yielded 3 relatively unrelated factors that were stable across rotations: Recognition, Ambivalence, and Taking Steps. Recognition scores at baseline were found to be mildly related to intensity of alcohol consumption and problems. Comparable scale scores resulted from short (19-item) and longer (39-item) forms of the instrument. Normative data are provided for the short form.