PRECIPITANTS OF ALCOHOLIC RELAPSE: THE FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF 100 CASES

Alcoholic relapse was investigated in 100 subjects, patients in a residential treatment program, by the analysis of responses to a semi-structured interview. The use of the AMIS (Amissions Meeting Interview Schedule), constructed for the purposes of this study, is described.A focus of the research was to identify those events or situations which precipitate resumption of drinking in abstinent alcoholics following treatment, and to ascertain the relative danger of each as a potential precipitant of relapse. Relapse precipitants were found to be more diverse and more complex in their contribution to the process of relapse than has previously been acknowledged.The results support a ‘coping skills’ model of relapse, and argue for a radical change of current treatment practices towards a ‘relapse prevention’ approach.