Relapse Precipitants in Addictions

Abstract

In this paper, a study examining high-risk situations for relapse is presented. The sample consisted of 72 participants (51 male and 21 female) who had relapsed after having received a residential psychological treatment for drug addition in a therapeutic community in Spain. In order to analyze what personal, environmental or social factors were the most immediate triggers of relapse, a personal interview, using the Relapse Interview, was administered to each one of the relapsed patients. Results showed that most of the relapses took place during the first year after completing the treatment program. Likewise, the factors most frequently cited for relapse were the following: to cope with negative emotional states (49.5%), to be unable to resist temptations or impulses to consume (17.5%), to test personal control (10.3%) and to cope with interpersonal conflicts (9.3%). Results indicate thatmost factors were of an intrapersonal nature. Implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are commented upon.

Profile of Addicted Patients who Reenter Treatment Programs

“…(7)(8)(9) However, clinical experience shows that some patients who suffer from drug addiction are readmitted to treatment programs multiple times because of relapses that occur after they leave these programs. (10) In recent decades, the interest in a subtype of patients who, despite receiving treatment, alternate between periods of abstinence (or more controlled drug use) and periods of relapse and readmission into treatment programs has increased. (11,12) Scott et al describe 3 common situations in the recovery process of patients with addictions: relapse, reentry into a treatment program, and abstinence.…”

Posttraumatic stress disorder in a therapeutic community for substance use disorders: an evaluation of the influence

“…Retention was not measured in all studies, and for a pair of studies the retention variable was not relevant. The studies for which retention was not relevant were: one study which retrospectively recruited (Keen et al, 2001), and another study which investigated graduates who had relapsed (Fernández-Montalvo et al, 2007). Furthermore, Morgen and Kressel (2010) only included participants who had been in the program for over 150 days.…”

“…One retrospective study interviewed previous graduates of a TC an average of 11.7 months after graduation (Carroll & McGinley, 2000). A pair of studies engaged previously graduated residents a mean of 6 years after graduation (Fernández -Montalvo et al, 2008;Fernández-Montalvo et al, 2007). A further two studies included post program time points as part of longitudinal research, with a mean follow-up length of 17 months (Dekel et al, 2004;Messina et al, 2000).…”

“…The studies that included follow-up assessments were varied in their goals, and did not relate follow-up status to an early program baseline. Specifically, the comparison of program completers and drop outs (Fernández -Montalvo et al, 2008;Zoccali et al, 2007), precipitants of relapse (Fernández-Montalvo et al, 2007), and evaluation of functioning based on the Tennessee Self Concept Scale: 2 (Carroll & McGinley, 2000) were conducted.…”