Drug use problem awareness and treatment readiness in dual-diagnosis patients

Problem awareness and treatment readiness are factors that influence treatment-seeking behavior, and thus, morbidity and outcome. The authors elucidated patterns of problem awareness and treatment readiness among hospitalized dually diagnosed patients by administering the Problem Awareness and Readiness for Treatment subscales of the Alcohol Use Inventory to 67 psychiatric inpatients with comorbid substance-related disorders and using a multivariate model approach to data analysis. The results suggested differential and interactive effects of gender, ethnicity, voluntary admission status, and a diagnosis of major depression (MDD) on drug abuse problem awareness and treatment readiness. Female gender, voluntary admission status, and a comorbid diagnosis of MDD were associated with increased awareness and readiness for treatment.