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Abstract
This study examined how an individually developed rationale affects the acceptability of a given treatment intervention. Sixty substance abusers currently in treatment at a Midwestern Veterans Administration Medical Center participated in this study. The Intervention Rating Profile (Witt & Martens, 1983) was used to measure each participant's acceptance of the standardized treatment intervention.
Each of the participant's perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes regarding his own alcohol/substance abuse problem was assessed using the author developed Perception Assessment Interview. They were then given a treatment intervention preceeded by either a matching rationale, a generic rationale, or no rationale at all. After reading the suggested intervention, each participant rated the intervention's acceptability.
The standard treatment intervention preceeded by a matching rationale was rated as significantly more acceptable than when preceeded with no rationale at all. However, the difference between acceptability ratings of the intervention when preceeded by a generic rationale and no rationale at all was not significant. There was also no significant difference between the acceptability ratings of the intervention preceded by a matching rationale versus a generic rationale. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
