Depressive symptoms, drinking consequences, and motivation to change in first time DWI offenders

Psychological disorders are common among driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders; thus, a DWI arrest may serve as an important opportunity for further screening and subsequent treatment.

The current study examined the extent to which mild to moderate pretreatment depressive symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), could predict intervention outcomes in 284 first-time DWI offenders.

Participants were given drinking-related and psychosocial assessments at the beginning and end of a 10-week intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

After the intervention and at both follow-ups, all participants reported declines in depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and negative drinking consequences and higher self-efficacy to avoid high-risk drinking. It was notable, however, that offenders with depressive symptoms reported more drinking-related consequences and lower self-efficacy at all time points, but greater motivation to change their drinking behavior.

The findings suggest that offenders with depressive symptoms have more severe symptomatology than nondepressed offenders but may be more amenable to changing their drinking.

The BDI may be a useful screening tool for determining which offenders are in need of an intervention following a DWI arrest.