Motivational intervention, a strategy to increase motivation for change, was
tested as an addition to treatment at the start of an outpatient programme
for alcohol dependence. Admissions to the programme were randomly allocated
to either a motivational or educational procedure. The three motivational
constructs of the SOCRATES-8A Readiness to Change questionnaire (Ambivalence
about change, Recognition of problems, Taking Steps to change) were used as
measures of motivation for change. At one week post-intervention,
motivational participants reported significantly greater levels of problem
recognition. The motivational group's post-intervention scores were
significantly higher on the Taking Steps scale and significantly lower on
the Ambivalence scale. There was no difference on measures of engagement in
treatment or drop-out from the outpatient treatment programme. For the
population as a whole, a relatively low pre-intervention score on the
Ambivalence scale was predictive of drop-out. Results support the efficacy
of motivational intervention for decreasing self-reported levels of
ambivalence about change and for increasing problem recognition and taking
steps towards change. More detailed research with a longer follow-up period
is needed to determine whether this has any impact on other vectors of
motivation for change, including participation in treatment, outcome
expectancy and drinking behaviour.
A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a brief motivational intervention to promote breastfeeding in postpartum depression