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Understanding relapse in the broader context of post-treatment functioning
G J Connors1, S A Maisto, W H Zywiak
1Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Understanding alcoholism relapse is crucial. This study applies a systems model to predict relapse using personal and environmental factors, finding significant predictors for post-treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Psychology
- Health services research
Background:
- Growing interest in sophisticated frameworks for evaluating post-treatment functioning in alcoholics.
- Moos's "systems model" of treatment outcome provides a foundation for understanding health and illness.
- Need for a model to study relapse in alcoholism treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extrapolate the systems model to the study of alcoholism relapse.
- To view relapse as an outcome influenced by person and environmental factors.
- To analyze interrelationships between various factors and post-treatment functioning.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 142 clients undergoing inpatient or outpatient alcoholism treatment.
- Utilized path analyses and multiple regression models for preliminary assessments.
- Examined relationships between background, alcohol involvement, coping skills, stressors, and relapse/outcome.
Main Results:
- Composite "blocks" of background characteristics, alcohol involvement/symptomatology, and coping skills were significant predictors of relapse and post-treatment functioning.
- Predictive power varied depending on the specific outcome variable assessed.
- Demonstrated convergence among key predictor categories.
Conclusions:
- The extrapolated systems model shows potential for advancing knowledge in alcoholism relapse research.
- The conceptual model and analytic strategies are promising for understanding post-treatment functioning.
- Further research using this framework can enhance treatment evaluation and understanding.