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Are depressed drinking/driving offenders more receptive to brief intervention?
Elisabeth Wells-Parker1, Patricia Dill, Marsha Williams
1SSRC, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. bwparker@ssrc.msstate.edu
Addictive Behaviors
|July 12, 2005
Summary
Depressed mood in first-time DUI offenders correlates with greater receptiveness to counseling. However, resistance to counseling increases with extra sessions or costs, with Caucasian males showing higher resistance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Addiction Studies
Background:
- Depressed mood is linked to motivation for change in substance abuse.
- Understanding factors influencing counseling receptiveness is crucial for DUI offender programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between depressed mood and receptiveness to additional counseling in DUI offenders.
- To examine how factors like cost and session requirements affect counseling resistance.
Main Methods:
- Three studies analyzed adjudicated first DUI offenders in court-mandated programs.
- Various measures assessed depressed mood, receptiveness, and resistance to counseling.
Main Results:
- Depressed mood was consistently associated with higher receptiveness and lower resistance to counseling.
- Counseling resistance was lowest when offered at no extra cost within the program.
- Resistance was highest for counseling requiring extra sessions or additional fees.
Conclusions:
- Depressed mood may enhance engagement with counseling services among DUI offenders.
- Program design, particularly cost and session structure, significantly impacts offender resistance to counseling.
- While demographic differences in resistance exist, the interplay with depression requires further investigation.