Expressed Emotions and Coping among Relapsed Persons with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Comparative Study

Alcohol dependence is a global public health issue; it is a chronic and relapsing illness. Relapse is multifaceted by both neurobiological and psychosocial processes.

To examine the expressed emotions and coping among persons with alcohol dependence.

The study was descriptive and hospital-based. A purposive sampling technique was used. This study was conducted at the Centre for Addiction Psychiatry, CIP, Ranchi. The total sample size was 50. Twenty-five persons with alcohol dependence who relapsed within six months following treatment formed a study group. Another 25 persons with alcohol dependence who were abstinent for a minimum period of six months after treatment formed a comparative group. Ways of coping questionnaire and the level of expressed emotions scale were used, and informed consent was taken from the participants. Chi-square and independent sample 't' test, Pearson's correlation was used to analyse the data.

Mean age of relapsed patients was 35.3 years (S.D±7.6), and abstinent patients were 35.4 yrs (S.D±6.8), years of education of relapsed patients score was 12 yrs ±2.63 and 11.6 yrs ±3.26 in abstinent patients. A majority (60% )of relapsed patients were from rural background, 92% in the abstinent group were employed. 60% of abstinent patients had a family history of alcohol dependence. Abstinent patients had scored significantly high in all the domains of ways of coping. Relapse patients had higher scores in perceived lack of emotional support, perceived irritability, perceived intrusiveness, and perceived criticism compared to abstinent patients.

The study provided further evidence that coping and perceived expressed emotions significantly influenced relapse among persons with alcohol dependence.