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Updated: May 21, 2026
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Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models
Published on: December 23, 2025
Assessing motivational interviewing integrity for group interventions with adolescents
Elizabeth J D'Amico1, Karen C Osilla, Jeremy N V Miles
1RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. elizabeth_d’amico@rand.org
Summary
This study shows how to measure the quality of group motivational interviewing (MI) for adolescents. The findings confirm that group MI can be delivered with integrity and differs from usual care in addiction treatment.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Treatment Research
- Adolescent Behavioral Health
- Psychosocial Intervention Fidelity
Background:
- Group therapy is common in adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment.
- Limited research exists on the effectiveness and integrity of group motivational interviewing (MI).
- Assessing the fidelity of MI delivered in group settings is crucial but underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a method for evaluating the integrity of group MI interventions for at-risk youth.
- To assess the feasibility and reliability of using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) scale in a group context.
- To compare MI delivery between an MI-intervention group and a usual-care group.
Main Methods:
- Coded 140 group sessions from an MI intervention for at-risk youth using MITI scale v3.1.
- Employed four trained coders to assess session integrity.
- Utilized a method based on limits of agreement to evaluate inter-rater reliability.
Main Results:
- Adequate agreement was achieved between the trained raters.
- Significant differences were found in MI global ratings and behavioral counts between the MI-intervention and usual-care groups.
- The study successfully demonstrated the possibility of assessing group MI integrity.
Conclusions:
- It is feasible to evaluate the integrity of motivational interviewing delivered in group settings.
- Group MI implementation in adolescent AOD treatment can be reliably assessed.
- Group MI differs significantly from usual care in adolescent addiction treatment settings.
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