Psychosocial Profiles of Criminal Justice- and Noncriminal Justice-Referred Substance Abusers in Treatment

Abstract

This study compared the psychosocial profiles of 136 criminal justice-referred substance abuse outpatients with 40 noncriminal justice-referred outpatients at the same facility. Profiles were based on the Texas Christian University Self-Rating Form, consisting of 11 scales: Self-Esteem, Depression, Anxiety, Decision Making, Childhood Problems, Hostility, Risk Taking, Socialization, Assessment of Drug Use Problems, Desire for Help, and Readiness for Treatment. Except for the last three scales, which correspond to Prochaska and DiClemente's stages of change, the profiles of both groups were virtually identical. The criminal justice-referred participants, however, scored significantly lower in their Assessment of Drug Problems, Desire for Help, and Readiness for Treatment. The need for enhancing such clients' motivation early in treatment id discussed.