TREATMENT MOTIVATION

Being motivated means taking action to do something. Motivation is recognized as a key factor in psychological treatments. Clinical monitoring and research in various clinical areas acknowledge the importance of an individual's readiness to seek and respond to treatment interventions. It is assumed that motivation affects the effectiveness of treatment and behavior change. Lack of motivation is one of the most frequently cited reasons for patient discontinuation, failure to comply with treatment, relapse and other negative treatment outcomes.

The importance of patients' motivation for the choice of a particular therapeutic intervention is recognized and this is reflected in the extensive literature on enhancing treatment motivation. Conclusions on the nature of motivation and its role in seeking and taking part in treatment and on continuous behavior change may at times be inconsistent. The reasons for this stems from the definition and measurement of motivation. He defines motivation as the probability of certain behaviors. It is the possibility that a person will enter, continue, and stick with a particular change strategy. Some authors highlight the risk of circularity in terms of motivation. Bandura points out that intention cannot be deduced from action. Otherwise, it provides a cyclical explanation in which the same event is taken as evidence of both cause and effect. Instead, the intention must be defined independently of the behavior it regulates. Gossop (1972) argues that the definition of motivation is very global and theoretically does not have empirical value. The past two decades have witnessed the proliferation of studies and approaches on motivation in the field of substance abuse. Conceptual models are limited by two specific forms of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic. In the definitions of De Leon et al. (2001), intrinsic motivation is the pressure of change that emerges from within the individual. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is the perception of external pressures or forcing pressure, or entering and staying in treatment.

Research focuses on gradually conceptualizing motivation and developing metrics that could potentially better measure a person's level, source of motivation, and readiness for change and treatment.

Motivational interviewing is the basis for the growth of an equal reconceptualization of motivation for treatment. Motivational interviewing is a brief intervention designed to increase intrinsic motivation for behavior change through the investigation and reduction of patient instability.

Most patients show the level of motivation to change due to intrinsic or extrinsic pressures or a combination of these. A complete view of treatment motivation as phases of the Center for Therapeutic Community Research and Behavioral Research Institute at Christian University of Texas acknowledges the distinction between change / treatment motivation and readiness for change / treatment. Both formulations consider individuals' cognitive readiness for treatment and recovery, and attempt to explain treatment seeking behavior and entering treatment for problems.

Addressing motivational problems early in treatment has the potential to maximize the likelihood of initiating and maintaining participation. In De Leon's (1996) model, motivation is explained by readiness, external conditions and conformity. Motivation reflects the individual's awareness of the need for change and internal causes of change. The current conditions of a person, including external pressures, can affect their decision to enter and leave treatment. The treatment needs and motivation model shows that motivation exists throughout a continuum from problem recognition, requesting help to treatment preparation. Problem recognition is characterized by the individual realizing that substance use causes personal problems and life problems. The request for help represents the cognitive state expressed and needed help to solve the problem. As a result, preparation for treatment ends with the cognitive preparation of the individual to see and accept treatment as the best way to heal and become a step towards real interaction with a treatment program.

Expert Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ekrem Çulfa

REFERENCES

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice – Hall.

De Leon, G. (1996). Integrative recovery: A stage paradigm. Substance Abuse 17: 51--63.

De Leon, G., Melnick, G., Tims, F. M. (2001). The role of motivation and readiness in treatment and recovery. In: Tims CGLFM, Platt JJ, editors. Relapse and recovery in addictions. London: Yale University Press. pp 143--171.

Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C. (1983). Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Toward an integrative