Motivational intervention, a strategy to increase motivation for change, wastested as an addition to treatment at the start of an outpatient programmefor alcohol dependence. Admissions to the programme were randomly allocatedto either a motivational or educational procedure. The three motivationalconstructs of the SOCRATES-8A Readiness to Change questionnaire (Ambivalenceabout change, Recognition of problems, Taking Steps to change) were used asmeasures of motivation for change. At one week post-intervention,motivational participants reported significantly greater levels of problemrecognition. The motivational group's post-intervention scores weresignificantly higher on the Taking Steps scale and significantly lower onthe Ambivalence scale. There was no difference on measures of engagement intreatment or drop-out from the outpatient treatment programme. For thepopulation as a whole, a relatively low pre-intervention score on theAmbivalence scale was predictive of drop-out. Results support the efficacyof motivational intervention for decreasing self-reported levels ofambivalence about change and for increasing problem recognition and takingsteps towards change. More detailed research with a longer follow-up periodis needed to determine whether this has any impact on other vectors ofmotivation for change, including participation in treatment, outcomeexpectancy and drinking behaviour.