Cue-exposure interventions for alcohol relapse prevention: need for a memory modification component

The ability of cue-conditioned responses (CCRs) to predict relapse in problem drinkers across a wide variety of situations is better appreciated when one considers that encoded alcohol-related stimuli can be retrieved from memory and, consequently, serve as symbolic cues. By decreasing retrieval strength to such cues one might: (1) decrease the possibility that such cues elicit alcohol-related CCRs (urges), which may lead to drinking, and (2) decrease the possibility of relapse resulting directly from thinking about drinking. A memory modification approach, as compared to cue exposure, may be relatively effective with old versus young alcoholics.