Overview

Processes of change is a major dimension of the transtheoretical model that describes how shifts in behavior occur. Change processes include covert and overt activities and experiences that individuals engage in when they attempt to modify problem behaviors. Many studies have shown that successful self-changers use different processes during different stages of change.

The Processes of Change Questionnaire is a 40-item self-report measure scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Individuals are asked to indicate how often they may use each thought or situation to help them avoid using illegal drugs.

Processes of Change Questionnaire Client ID#_________________

Drug Version: Form AB Date: ______/______/______

Assessment Point: _____________

EACH STATEMENT BELOW DESCRIBES A SITUATION OR THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT USE TO HELP YOU NOT USE ILLEGAL DRUGS DURING THE PAST WEEK.

Instructions:

There are five possible responses to each of the items in the questionnaire:

1=Never

2=Seldom

3=Occasionally

4=Frequently

5=Repeatedly

Please read each statement and circle the number on the right to indicate how often you make use of a particular situation or thought to help you not USE ILLEGAL DRUGS. Remember these statements refer to situations or thoughts you might use dURING THE PAST WEEK.

	Never	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Repeatedly
1) I do something nice for myself for making efforts to change.	1	2	3	4	5
2) I can talk with at least one special person about my drug use experiences.	1	2	3	4	5
3) I get upset when I think about illnesses caused by drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
4) I see signs in some public places trying to help people not use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
5) I stop to think about how my drug use is hurting people around me.	1	2	3	4	5
6) I consider that feeling good about myself includes changing my drug use behavior.	1	2	3	4	5
7) I remove things from my home or work that remind me of drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
8) I calm myself when I get the urge to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
9) I reward myself when I don’t give in to my urge to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5

	Never	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Repeatedly
10) I have someone to talk with who understands my problems with drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
11) Warnings about the health hazards of drug use have an emotional effect on me.	1	2	3	4	5
12) I use will power to stop from using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
13) I notice that people with drug problems are making known their desire not to be pressed to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
14) I am considering the idea that people around me would be better off without my problem drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
15) I read newspaper stories that may help me quit using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
16) I avoid situations that encourage me to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
17) I try to think about other things when I begin to think about using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
18) I have someone who listens when I want to talk about my drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
19) Stories about drugs and their effects upset me.	1	2	3	4	5
20) I make myself aware that I can choose to overcome my drug use if I want to.	1	2	3	4	5
21) I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to overcome my drug use problem.	1	2	3	4	5
22) I have strong feelings about how much my drug use has hurt the people I care about.	1	2	3	4	5
23) I become disappointed with myself when I depend on drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
24) I look for information related to problem drug use.	1	2	3	4	5

	Never	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Repeatedly
25) I use reminders to help me not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
26) I do something else instead of using drugs when I need to deal with tension.	1	2	3	4	5
27) I don’t let myself have fun when I use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
28) I have someone whom I can count on to help me when I’m having problems with drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
29) I read newspaper stories that can affect me emotionally about my drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
30) I tell myself that if I try hard enough I can keep from using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
31) I stop and think that my drug use is causing problems for other people.	1	2	3	4	5
32) I feel more competent when I decide not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
33) I seek out groups of people who can increase my awareness about the problems of drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
34) I stay away from places generally associated with my drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
35) I find that doing things is a good substitute for using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
36) I spend time with people who reward me for not using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
37) I make commitments to myself not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
38) I see advertisements on television about how society is trying to help people to not use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
39) I think about the type of person I will be if I control my drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
40) I think about information that people have personally given me on the benefits of quitting drugs.	1	2	3	4	5

Scoring Instructions

Process of Change Questionnaire – 40-item drug version

Process	PCQ item #	Process	PCQ item #
Experiential		Behavioral
Consciousness Raising	15, 24, 33, 40	Contingency Management	1, 9, 27, 36
Dramatic Relief	3, 11, 19, 29	Counter Conditioning	8, 17, 26, 35
Environmental Re-evaluation	5, 14, 22, 31	Helping Relationships	2, 10, 18, 28
Self Re-evaluation	6, 23, 32, 39	Self Liberation	12, 20, 30, 37
Social Liberation	4, 13, 21, 38	Stimulus Control	7, 16, 25, 34

To obtain a mean overall Process of Change score, sum scores from all items and divide by 40.

To obtain a mean Experiential Process score, sum item scores from all Experiential subscales and divide by 20. This includes items 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 31, 32, 33, 38, 39, and 40.

To obtain a mean Behavioral Process score, sum item scores for all Behavioral subscales and divide by 20. This includes items 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 34, 35, 36, and 37.

To obtain mean scores for individual subscales, sum item scores for each subscale and divide by 4.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Processes of Change Questionnaire Client ID#_________________

Drug Version Date: ______/______/______

Assessment Point: _____________

EACH STATEMENT BELOW DESCRIBES A SITUATION OR THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT USE TO HELP YOU NOT USE ILLEGAL DRUGS DURING THE PAST WEEK.

Instructions:

There are five possible responses to each of the items in the questionnaire:

1=Never

2=Seldom

3=Occasionally

4=Frequently

5=Repeatedly

Please read each statement and circle the number on the right to indicate how often you make use of a particular situation or thought to help you NOT USE ILLEGAL DRUGS. Remember these statements refer to situations or thoughts you might use dURING THE PAST WEEK.

	Never	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Repeatedly
1) I reward myself when I don’t give in to my urge to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
2) I have someone to talk with who understands my problems with drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
3) I get upset when I think about illnesses caused by drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
4) I am considering the idea that people around me would be better off without my problem drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
5) I read newspaper stories that may help me quit using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
6) I try to think about other things when I begin to think about using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
7) I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to overcome my drug problem.	1	2	3	4	5
8) I become disappointed with myself when I depend on drugs.	1	2	3	4	5

	Never	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Repeatedly
9) I look for information related to problem drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
10) I use reminders to help me not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
11) I have someone whom I can count on to help me when I’m having problems with drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
12) Stories about drugs and their effects upset me.	1	2	3	4	5
13) I tell myself that if I try hard enough I can keep from using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
14) I stop to think about how my drug use is hurting people around me.	1	2	3	4	5
15) I feel more competent when I decide not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
16) I stay away from places generally associated with my drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
17) I find that doing things is a good substitute for drug use.	1	2	3	4	5
18) I spend time with people who reward me for not using drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
19) I make commitments to myself not to use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5
20) I see advertisements on television about how society is trying to help people not use drugs.	1	2	3	4	5

Scoring Instructions

Process of Change Questionnaire – 20-item drug version

Process	PCQ item #	Process	PCQ item #
Experiential		Behavioral
Consciousness Raising	5, 9	Contingency Management	1, 18
Dramatic Relief	3, 12	Counter Conditioning	6, 17
Environmental Re-evaluation	4, 14	Helping Relationships	2, 11
Self Re-evaluation	8, 15	Self Liberation	13, 19
Social Liberation	7, 20	Stimulus Control	10, 16

To obtain a mean overall Process of Change score, sum scores from all items and divide by 20.

To obtain a mean Experiential Process score, sum item scores from all Experiential subscales and divide by 10. This includes items 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, and 20.

To obtain a mean Behavioral Process score, sum item scores for all Behavioral subscales and divide by 10. This includes items 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

To obtain mean scores for individual subscales, sum item scores for each subscale and divide by 2.

References

DiClemente, CC, Prochaska, JO, Fairhurst, SK, Velicer, WF, Velasquez, MM, & Rossi, JS. (1991). The process of smoking cessation: An analysis of precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 295-304.

Perz, CA, DiClemente, CC, & Carbonari, JP. (1996). Doing the right thing at the right time? The interaction of stages and processes of change in successful smoking cessation. Health Psychology, 15, 462-468.

Prochaska, JO, Velicer, WF, DiClemente, CC, & Fava, JL. (1988). Measuring the processes of change: Applications to the cessation of smoking. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 520-528.