Which assessment measures a patient's motivation to change drinking behavior?

• A. Inventory of Drinking Situations
• B. SOCRATES
• C. Coping Response Inventory
• D. Situational Confidence Questionnaire

Answer: (B)

Motivation to change drinking behavior is best captured by SOCRATES because it directly measures a person’s readiness and willingness to change. It assesses recognition of a drinking problem, the level of ambivalence about change, and the extent to which the person intends to take steps toward change. This focus on motivation makes it the most appropriate tool when you’re trying to gauge where a patient is in the change process and tailor motivational strategies accordingly.

The Inventory of Drinking Situations looks at contexts and triggers for drinking and the person’s coping responses in those situations, not their motivation to change. The Coping Response Inventory examines how someone copes with stress, which is about coping skills rather than readiness to alter drinking behavior. The Situational Confidence Questionnaire measures self-efficacy—how confident someone feels about resisting drinking in high‑risk scenarios—again, focusing on confidence rather than motivation to change.