Is the Construct of Relapse Heuristic, and Does It Advance Alcohol Use Disorder Clinical Practice?

Examining cocaine use reductions and long-term outcomes in two clinical trials of continuing care for cocaine dependence

BACKGROUND

There is a need to identify clinically meaningful non-abstinent endpoints for cocaine use disorder (CUD) clinical trials. In this study, we sought to replicate and extend prior work validating reductions in cocaine use frequency levels as an endpoint by examining associations between reductions in cocaine use frequency and long-term functioning outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of two randomized clinical trials (N = 445; 77.5 % male; mean age = 42.18 years; 86.5 % Black, 10.8 % non-Hispanic white) that evaluated telephone-based continuing care for a 12- and 24-month period. Cocaine use frequency levels, measured with the Timeline Followback, were (1) abstinence (no past-month cocaine use), (2) low-frequency use (1-4 days of use/month), and (3) high-frequency use (5+ days of use/month).

RESULTS

Among those who completed the 12-month follow-up (n = 392), most reduced from high-frequency use at baseline to abstinence at the 12-month follow-up (n = 243; 62.0 %). An additional 21.2 % (n = 83) reported either high-to-low-frequency use (n = 35; 8.9 %) or low use-to-abstinence (n = 48; 12.2 %); 16.8 % of participants (n = 66) did not change or increased their cocaine frequency level. Compared to those who had no change/increases in frequency levels, at least a one-level reduction from baseline to 12-month follow-up (i.e., high-to-low-frequency use, high-to-abstinence, low-to-abstinence) was concurrently associated with lower levels of negative consequences at the 12-month follow-up and prospectively with lower levels of cocaine use and consequences at 24-month follow-up, with effect sizes in the medium-to-large range. Those who reduced to abstinence generally had fewer drug use consequences at the 12-month follow-up than those who reduced to a low-frequency level; however, these groups did not significantly differ on any outcomes at the 24-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Categorical reductions in cocaine use frequency levels, including those short of abstinence, are associated with less cocaine use and lower problem severity up to two years following treatment entry. Low-frequency cocaine use following the initial treatment phase does not appear to forebode worsening functioning, such as escalations in cocaine use.

Self-Reported Sobriety Labels: Perspectives from Alumni of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Background

There is a lack of consensus in the addiction field as to how to refer to alumni of residential treatment who no longer use substances or who reduce their use. In the literature, this label and broader identity are typically discussed in technical (amount and frequency of use) or social terms (environment and social network changes).

Objective

The current paper seeks to simplify the discussion by focusing on personal labels without complex technical or social considerations. Alumni of an inpatient addiction treatment facility were asked how they refer to themselves regarding their sobriety status post-discharge.

Methods

Forty-nine patients were contacted 3 months post-discharge from a residential inpatient addiction treatment (men = 67%; Mage = 47.75 years). The patients completed a post-discharge assessment that was conducted by a trained research assistant over a 20-minute video call. The current study focused on a "sobriety label" measure in which patients indicated what they want to be called. Patients also explained why they chose their answer in an open-ended question.

Results

Most patients identified as in recovery (n = 29; 59.18%) followed by a sober person (n = 7; 14.29%) and four other responses. No alum selected the in remission option, which is notably a common way to refer to patients who no longer use substances.

Conclusion

The current study adds a critical patient/alumni perspective to the existing body of literature and serves as a call to action for researchers to add a similar "sobriety label" measure to future assessments, studies, and batteries in effort to bring consistency to the labels, definitions, and identities that are published. This methodology of understanding how this population identifies will create uniformity in future literature and decrease the stigma surrounding addiction.

Psychological factors predicting patients' risk of relapse after enrollment in drug use treatment: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite high rates of relapse after treatment for drug use, to our knowledge there is no systematic literature identifying psychological factors that predict risk of relapse to drug use (excluding alcohol or tobacco). Our aim was to identify psychological factors that predict risk of relapse to drug use after enrollment in drug use treatment. The identification of such factors can support treatment planning and relapse prevention.

METHODS

We searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2023 in PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Web of Science, and PubMed. The inclusion criteria were: peer-reviewed publications, quantitative studies, in English, adult samples, with a prospective design, and analyses of minimum one psychological factor as predictor of relapse to drug use. All authors were involved in abstract and full-text screening, and in assessing risk of bias. The findings are presented in a narrative synthesis and tables are organized by type of drug.

RESULTS

Of 2226 publications initially identified, 45 were eligible. Twenty-three focused on predicting relapse to stimulants, 15 to opioids, and 7 to unspecified drugs. Substance use at baseline was an important factor predicting risk of relapse to opioids, and possibly stimulants. There was an indication that craving and attention problems potentially predict relapse to use of some drugs. Mental health factors (e.g., psychiatric diagnosis) did not predict relapse. Several psychological factors (e.g., cognition, emotion, personality, motivation) were scarcely examined. Over half of the studies had moderate to high risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the 45 studies, few psychological factors predicted risk of relapse to drug use. Higher comparability between studies and more rigorous methodology are necessary in order to derive more precise recommendations that inform and improve clinical practice.

PRE-REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42020182839.

Previous psychiatric hospitalizations as risk factors for single and multiple future alcohol-related hospitalizations in patients with alcohol use disorders

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) often have co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The association between psychiatric conditions and AUD relapse has not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to quantify different psychiatric comorbidities as risk factors for first and multiple AUD rehospitalizations in patients already hospitalized once for AUD.

METHODS

We used a nation-wide routine health-care database in Scotland, UK, between 2010 and 2019. Individuals with a first hospitalization for AUD (codes F10.0-9 in the ICD-10 codes) were checked for previous hospitalizations where the main or co-occurring cause was a psychiatric condition (any other F0-F99 code in ICD-10). The final cohort included 23 529 patients, 18 620 of whom did not have a history of any other psychiatric comorbidity. First, individuals with a history of any previous psychiatric hospitalization were grouped and compared with those without on the basis of time to AUD rehospitalization. Then, individuals with different histories of psychiatric hospitalization were compared with each other. Cox and Prentice, Williams and Peterson gap-time models were used for single and multiple AUD rehospitalizations, respectively.

RESULTS

The AUD rehospitalization rate in individuals with a previous psychiatric hospitalization was 8% higher compared with those without [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.14]. The difference in rehospitalization rate reduced following the first rehospitalization (HR at second rehospitalization from first: 0.95, 95% CI = 0.87-1.04 and HR at third rehospitalization from second: 0.94, 95% CI = 0.84-1.07). Mood disorders and neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders were associated with a 54% (HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.38-1.72) and 39% (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.17-1.66) increase in the risk of a first AUD rehospitalization. Other conditions, such as disorders due to psychoactive substance use or schizophrenia, were associated with decreases in future AUD rehospitalization (HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82-0.97 and HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.58-1.16, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with AUD appear to have different rates of AUD rehospitalization based on different co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Addiction-related characteristics may be more relevant risk indicators for multiple AUD readmission than psychiatric comorbidities.

The Initial Efficacy of Stand-Alone DBT Skills Training for Treating Impulsivity Among Individuals With Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders

Impulsivity is considered a core feature of substance use disorders (SUDs), including personological (i.e., negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation) and neuropsychological (i.e., cognitive and motor disinhibition, impulsive choice) dimensions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST) as a stand-alone treatment is an effective intervention for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other SUDs. However, there are no studies that have investigated changes in impulsivity levels during a DBT-ST program, especially testing the therapeutic effects of DBT skills. Twenty-nine patients with AUD and other SUDs were admitted to a 3-month DBT-ST program. Self-report (i.e., UPPS-P) and computerized neuropsychological (i.e., Attentional Network test; Go/No-Go task; Iowa Gambling Task) measures of impulsivity were administered at the beginning and end of the DBT-ST. Distress tolerance (DTS), mindfulness (MAAS, FFMQ) and emotion regulation (DERS) were also assessed pre- and post-intervention. The study included two age- and gender-matched control groups: (a) untreated patients with SUDs (N = 29); (b) healthy controls (HCs) (N = 29). Twenty-four (82.7%) patients concluded the DBT-ST program. Emotion-based forms of impulsivity significantly improved during the program. At the end of treatment, impulsivity levels were significantly lower than those of untreated patients with SUDs and they were not significantly different from HCs. Cognitive disinhibition significantly decreased during the treatment. The improvement in impulsivity was explained by pre- posttreatment changes in distress tolerance, mindfulness and emotion regulation. Motor disinhibition did not improve during the treatment. These findings supported the initial efficacy of the DBT-ST program for addressing different features of impulsivity among individuals with AUD and other SUDs. Future follow-up studies should demonstrate the role of impulsivity domains in long-term relapse prevention.

Approach avoidance training versus Sham in veterans with alcohol use disorder: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent and commonly co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders among Veterans. Provisional evidence supports the use of Approach Avoidance Training (AAT) - a form of computer-delivered cognitive bias modification designed to target implicit approach bias for alcohol-related cues - as an adjunctive program to treat AUD. However, the extent to which AAT is effective for improving AUD recovery outcomes in outpatient Veteran samples and those with psychiatric comorbidities has been understudied to date. Here we describe a double-blind randomized controlled trial of AAT versus a comparison condition (Sham) being conducted in Veterans with comorbid psychiatric conditions completing outpatient standard care.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-six Veterans currently receiving outpatient treatment for AUD will be recruited for this randomized controlled trial with parallel group assignment. Participants will be randomized to either 6 weeks of AAT (n = 68) or Sham (n = 68) training in conjunction with usual care. Assessments will occur at baseline and 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-baseline. Primary outcome variables will include functional consequences of drinking. Secondary outcome variables will include alcohol consumption, and behavioral indicators of alcohol approach bias. A subset of participants (n = 51) will also complete functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess neural response during an alcohol approach bias assessment.

DISCUSSION

This study is the first randomized controlled trial of AAT administered as an adjunctive treatment to standard care in Veterans with AUD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Additionally, behavioral and neuroimaging data will be used to determine the extent to which AAT targets approach bias for alcohol cues. If effective, AAT may be a promising low-cost adjunctive treatment option for individuals with AUD.

REGISTRY NAME

AAT for Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05372029; Date of Registration: 5/9/2022.

An ideographic study into physiology, alcohol craving and lapses during one hundred days of daily life monitoring

Introduction

Alcohol craving is a highly challenging obstacle to achieve long-term abstinence. Making alcohol use disorder patients timely aware of high-risk craving situations may protect them against relapse by prompting them to mobilize their coping resources. Current advances in wearable and smart-phone technology provide novel opportunities for the development of detecting these situations of heightened risk of craving, by enabling continuous tracking of fluctuations in psychological and physiological parameters. The present study therefore aims to determine the association between self-reported craving and relapses, and between heightened physiological activity. Specifically, we measured cardiovascular and electrodermal activity, and self-reported craving during one hundred days in the daily life of people trying to recover from alcoholism. The secondary aim is to study whether the association between physiology and craving can be strengthened by the inclusion of context related psychological parameters.

Methods

An intensive repeated and continuous measures in naturalistic settings case-study design was employed. Ten participants were monitored with wearable bio-sensors and answered multiple questions every three hours on a smartphone app about craving, lapsing and multiple evidence based contextual variables. The association between physiology, craving and lapses was explored using Matthews correlation coefficients both with a current and 3 h lagged design. The contextual variables were included in a decision tree together with the physiological parameters to explore the added effect on the correlation of these contextual variables.

Results

The association between lapses and craving was highly different across individuals, varying between a weak to a strong association. The association between cardiovascular activity and heightened self-reported craving was negligible to weak, however with a high specificity, meaning that most craving events were accompanied by increase heart rate. However, the association between electrodermal activity and craving was lower than with cardiovascular activity for most participants, both prior (lagged) and during craving. For two of the participants the association between physiology and craving improved by adding contextual variables, however, precision was too low.

Conclusions

People differ strongly in their bodily reactions and psychological experiences during the first months of their addiction treatment. No individual in our study had unique one-to-one mappings between on the one hand physiological or psychological precursors, and on the other hand craving and (re)lapses. Therefore, detecting high risk craving situations with both physiological activity measured with wearables and psychological precursors to alert people specifically for an imminent (re)lapse, does not seem viable on the basis of the current results. We do see an added benefit of using physiology during treatment, as physiology can help start the conversation about possible high risk craving situations during that week. This would also help the counselor to gain added insights into the fluctuating states of the clients, and help to ameliorate the recall bias of clients. The present study showed the possibility and paved the way for future intensive longitudinal designs integrating both physiological, psychological and contextual factors during the challenging and lengthy recovery from addiction.

Stigmatizing Terminology for Outcomes and Processes (STOP) in Alcohol Research: A Meta-epidemiologic Assessment of Language Used in Clinical Trial Publications

INTRODUCTION

Stigmatizing language used to describe patients and medical conditions is associated with poorer health outcomes. A recent investigation showed that approximately 80% of medical literature focused on alcohol use disorder (AUD) contained stigmatizing terms related to individuals; however, the quantification of stigmatizing terminology for outcomes and processes (STOP) among AUD research is unknown. Thus, our primary objective was to evaluate publications of clinical trials for their inclusion of STOP.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of PubMed for AUD clinical trials between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2021. Article screening and data extraction were performed in a masked, duplicate manner by 2 investigators. We searched the full text of included manuscripts for STOP. We reported the frequency and percentage of manuscripts with STOP and individual terms. We evaluated associations between STOP usage and several clinical trial characteristics via logistic regression.

RESULTS

Our search returned 1552 articles, which were then randomized and the first 500 were screened for inclusion. Of 147 included articles, 115 (78.2%) included STOP. The most common STOP were "drop out" (38.78%; 57/147), "relapse" (36.05%; 53/ 147), and "adherent, nonadherence" (35.37%; 52/147). No significant associations were found between STOP usage and trial characteristics.

DISCUSSION

STOP was found in a majority of AUD clinical trial publications. As AUD is highly stigmatized, steps should be taken to eliminate usage of STOP in literature pertaining to AUD treatments. Many stigmatizing terms can be replaced by person-centered, more clinically accurate terms to further combat AUD stigma.

Clinical insight level predicts successful quit or control attempts during the first three months of outpatient addiction treatment

INTRODUCTION

Low clinical insight in psychiatry is defined as poor recognition of one's mental illness, including disability to self-evaluate symptom severity. It has been reported as common in addiction and is associated with lower treatment compliance. Longitudinal studies suggest that low clinical insight could be linked to more relapse. However, association with successful quit attempts remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine the prospective link between baseline clinical insight level and self-reports of successful attempts to quit / control use during the first 3 months of outpatient addiction treatment.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from the ADDICTAQUI cohort at outpatient treatment intake for substance or behavioral addictions. They completed a baseline evaluation using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and the modified Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale (m-HAIS) with a follow-up ASI 3 months later. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and non-parametric tests.

RESULTS

Lower clinical insight level at baseline was associated with less successful quit / control attempts during the first 3 months of outpatient treatment compared to a higher clinical insight level, controlling for sociodemographic factors, baseline addiction severity, and comorbidities (n = 54; exp(B) = 0.76; p (FDRcor) = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Poor clinical insight may be a barrier to treatment success, and future studies should examine underlying mechanisms.

The Clinical Course of Alcohol Use Disorder Depicted by Digital Biomarkers

Aims: This study introduces new digital biomarkers to be used as precise, objective tools to measure and describe the clinical course of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods: An algorithm is outlined for the calculation of a new digital biomarker, the recovery and exacerbation index (REI), which describes the current trend in a patient's clinical course of AUD. A threshold applied to the REI identifies the starting point and the length of an exacerbation event (EE). The disease patterns and periodicity are described by the number, length, and distance between EEs. The algorithms were tested on data from patients from previous clinical trials (n = 51) and clinical practice (n = 1,717).

Results: Our study indicates that the digital biomarker-based description of the clinical course of AUD might be superior to the traditional self-reported relapse/remission concept and conventional biomarkers due to higher data quality (alcohol measured) and time resolution. We found that EEs and the REI introduce distinct tools to identify qualitative and quantitative differences in drinking patterns (drinks per drinking day, phosphatidyl ethanol levels, weekday and holiday patterns) and effect of treatment time.

Conclusions: This study indicates that the disease state—level, trend and periodicity—can be mathematically described and visualized with digital biomarkers, thereby improving knowledge about the clinical course of AUD and enabling clinical decision-making and adaptive care. The algorithms provide a basis for machine-learning-driven research that might also be applied for other disorders where daily data are available from digital health systems.

Is the relapse concept in studies of substance use disorders a 'one size fits all' concept? A systematic review of relapse operationalisations

ISSUES

Relapse is a theoretical construct and empirical object of inquiry. It is unclear how relapse is operationalised with regard to the various phases in substance use disorders (SUD). The aim was to investigate relapse operationalisations in SUDs studies after short- and long-term abstinence and remission, recovery and slip/lapse.

APPROACH

Systematic review using the following databases: Epistemonikos, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL and DARE), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Search returned 3426 articles, with 276 meeting the following inclusion criteria: empirical study published in English in a peer-reviewed journal; samples meet diagnostic criteria for dependence syndrome or moderate-severe drug use disorder or alcohol use disorder; reports relapse, abstinence, recovery, remission, slip or lapse. Review protocol registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020154062).

KEY FINDINGS

Thirty-two percent of the studies had no definition of 'relapse'. Most relapse operationalisations were defined according to measure (26%), time (17%), use (26%) and amount and frequency (27%). Of the 16 studies with a follow-up duration of up to 2 years, one (6%) contained a definition of 'long-term abstinence'. Of the 64 studies with a follow-up duration of more than 2 years, four (6%) contained a definition of 'long-term abstinence'. Of those, one (2%) mentioned 'early relapse' and one (2%) mentioned 'late relapse'.

IMPLICATIONS

Future research is needed to explore the possible difference between early and late relapse. Moreover, working to increase consensus on relapse operationalisations in SUD research is warranted.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified no consensus on relapse operationalisations nor agreement on the differentiation between early and late relapse. The clinical utility of current relapse operationalisations seems low and may compromise knowledge accumulation about relapse and implementation of research into treatment.

"My god…how did I miss it?": Women's experiences of their spouses' alcohol-related relapses

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT

Alcohol addiction is manifested by periods of abstinence and relapse in which the individual returns to previous problematic alcohol use. This may lead to unstable and stressful routines for the family and for women who live with a spouse diagnosed with an AUD. AUD may mentally and physically affect women living with a spouse diagnosed with AUD with respect to relapse. However, most studies have focused on the influence of AUD in general, and the way they cope with it; few have dealt with the experience of relapse as a distinctive stage.

WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE

Women's experiences of their spouses' relapses are embedded within their broader life experience in the shadow of alcohol addiction. The pattern of transitions from closeness to distance in the ways women think, feel and actively respond to their spouses' relapses shows similarities with the ways in which individuals cope with repeated trauma. This helps relate these women's experiences of their spouses' repeated relapses to the potential complex trauma these women experience and leads to a better understanding of the internal emotional dynamics of these women's behavioural patterns.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

These women need a therapeutic solution that can help them cope with longstanding emotional burdens. Therapists should be sensitive to the complexity of their experience. When relevant, therapy should be based on therapeutic strategies from trauma practice, along with Alcohol Behavioural Couples Therapy that can reinforce the couple's mutual efforts to achieve sobriety or reduce AUD severity ABSTRACT: Introduction Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is manifested by periods of remission and relapse which can serve as a source of continuous stressors on the individuals and family. Women living with a spouse diagnosed with AUD can be mentally and physically affected by this behaviour. Most studies have focused on the general influence of AUD on these women and their attempts to cope with AUD; there are scant data on the influences of relapse as a distinctive stage. Aim To better understand how women whose spouses are diagnosed with AUD experience their relapses. Method A qualitative-naturalistic approach was implemented. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women whose spouses were diagnosed with AUD. Results Content analysis revealed three main categories representing the transitions from: a) ignorance to realization, b) emotional opposition to acceptance and c) activity to inactivity. Each category reflects one cognitive, emotional or behavioural dimension of this experience. The overarching theme emerged as shifts from closeness to distance in the way these women think, feel and actively respond to their spouse's relapses and addiction. Discussion The shift from closeness to distance as manifested by the three transitions is argued to reflect the ways these women experience and cope with the chronic nature of AUD. It is suggested that this experience parallels the phenomenology of symptoms of complex trauma. Implications for practice Nurses should be alert to the potential accumulative stressors experienced by these women and implement intervention strategies developed in the trauma field in addition to Alcohol Behavioural Couples Therapy.

Predictors of Relapse to Alcohol and Substance Use: Are There Any Differences between 3 and 12 Months after Inpatient Treatment?

Understanding the factors that lead to relapse is important for developing effective treatment strategies. The aim of this study is to examine sociodemographic and clinical factors that predict relapse 3 and 12 months after inpatient treatment in patients with alcohol and substance use disorders. 247 patients were included in the study. A sociodemographic data form and the Addiction Profile Index-Clinical Form (API-C) were filled out during the first days of hospitalization and relapse information was obtained through outpatient interviews. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess predictive factors. Rates of relapse for the 3^rd and 12^th months were 40.5% and 74.6%, respectively. Motivation to quit substance use, risk of depression, being on probation, and being employed predicted relapse within the 3-month period. At the 12^th month, substance use intensity and motivation to quit were the factors associated with relapse. To conclude, motivation to quit is critical to maintaining both early and sustained remission. Moreover, divergent factors may be relevant at different stages of treatment. Defining relapse predictors early in the process and being vigilant to the change in the needs of patients as the treatment continues may help to develop a more effective and focused treatment plan.

Patterns of transitions between relapse to and remission from heavy drinking over the first year after outpatient alcohol treatment and their relation to long-term outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Studying clinical course after alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment is central to understanding longer-term recovery. This study's two main objectives were to (a) replicate a recent study that identified heterogeneity in patterns of remission from/relapse to heavy drinking during the first year after outpatient treatment in an independent data set and (b) extend these recent findings by testing associations between patterns of remission/relapse and long-term alcohol-related and functioning outcomes.

METHOD

Latent profile analyses were conducted using data from Project MATCH (N = 952; M age = 38.9; 72.3% female) and COMBINE (N = 1,383; M age = 44.4; 69.1% male). Transitions between heavy and nonheavy drinking within consecutive 2-week periods over a 1-year posttreatment period were characterized for each participant. From this, latent profiles were identified based on participants' initial 2-week heavy drinking status, the number of observed transitions between 2-week periods of relapse and remission, and the average duration of observed remission/relapse episodes.

RESULTS

In both MATCH and COMBINE, we identified six profiles: (a) "continuous remission," 25.3% of COMBINE sample/25.3% of MATCH sample; (b) "transition to remission," 19.6%/9.6%; (c) "few long transitions," 15.9%/33.7%; (d) "many short transitions," 13.2%/13.6%; (e) "transition to relapse," 7.2%/7.1%; and (f) "continuous relapse," 18.8%/10.5%. Profiles 1 and 2 had the best long-term outcomes, Profiles 5 and 6 had the worst, and Profiles 3 and 4 fell between these groups.

CONCLUSIONS

That many individuals can remit from heavy drinking following one or more relapses to heavy drinking may be of direct interest to individuals in recovery from AUD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Reductions in Drinking Predict Increased Distress: Between- and Within-Person Associations between Alcohol Use and Psychological Distress During and Following Treatment

BACKGROUND

As the nature of the association between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other disorders is not well understood, the ways in which psychological distress changes during the course of treatment for AUD are relatively unknown. Existing literatures posit 2 competing hypotheses such that treatment for AUD concurrently decreases alcohol use and psychological distress or treatment for AUD decreases alcohol use and increases psychological distress. The current study examined the ways in which psychological distress changed as a function of treatment for AUD, including the relationship between psychological distress and drinking behaviors.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis was conducted on an existing clinical trial dataset that investigated the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy and therapeutic alliance feedback on AUDs. Specifically, data collected at baseline, posttreatment, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month follow-up assessments were examined.

RESULTS

Results indicated decreases in heavy drinking days, increases in percentage of days abstinent, and decreases in overall psychological distress. Findings also revealed that changes in psychological distress did not predict changes in drinking at the next time interval; however, decreases in drinking predicted higher psychological distress at the next assessment. Further, average levels of psychological distress were positively associated with rates of drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides some insight into how psychological distress changes during the course of treatment for AUD, including the relationship between changes in drinking and such symptoms. Future research should continue to explore these relationships, including the ways in which treatment efforts can address what may be seen as paradoxical effects.

Is craving a risk factor for substance use among treatment-seeking individuals with alcohol and other drugs use disorders? A meta-analytic review

BACKGROUND

It is still unclear whether craving should be considered a key risk factor for substance-use behaviors (SUB) among treatment-seeking individuals with alcohol (AUD) and other drugs use disorders. Therefore, this study aims at clarifying this topic using a meta-analytic approach.

METHODS

Cohen's d was computed as effect size (ES) measure. Heterogeneity of ESs was computed using the Q statistic and I² index. The analyses also evaluated the impact assessment length on ESs. Furthermore, proximal effects of craving on SUB were compared to distal ones. The diagnoses of specific substance use disorders (SUDs), together with assessment instruments and research design were considered as additional moderators.

RESULTS

Thirty-six independent studies were included for a total of 4868 treatment-seeking individuals with SUDs. Patients who used substances showed slightly higher levels of craving than abstinent ones. The heterogeneity of results was large and significant. The length of period of assessment was positively related to ESs. The analyses highlighted no differences between pooled ESs of proximal and distal impacts of craving on SUB. The diagnoses of SUDs were significant moderators. Considering AUD, assessment instruments and research design were additional moderators.

CONCLUSIONS

Craving is a modest time-dependent proximal and distal risk factor for SUB among individuals with SUDs. Both the frequency of craving episodes and a heightened reactivity to craving cues are largely associated to SUB among individuals with AUD. Future studies should evaluate the mediating and moderating roles of self-regulatory mechanisms on the relationship between craving and SUB.

A Reinforcer Pathology perspective on relapse

The Reinforcer Pathology theory proposes conditions under which drugs emerge as excessively preferred reinforcers compared to other available reinforcers among drug users. The theory highlights 2 key variables as important determinants of drug preference: (a) excessive preference for immediate rewards (high discounting of future rewards); and (b) excessive valuation for addictive reinforcers (e.g., drugs). Two iterations of the Reinforcer Pathology theory exist with the latest iteration (i.e., Reinforcer Pathology 2.0) specifying that the temporal window of reinforcer integration (measured by delay discounting) is a determinant of reinforcer value. The 2 iterations of the Reinforcer Pathology theory are described. A novel insight and understanding of abstinence and relapse from a Reinforcer Pathology perspective, limitations, and future directions are discussed. The Reinforcer Pathology theory continues the long-standing efforts to scientifically understand and better define novel concepts and methods to further translational research and improve treatment outcomes. Exploring the complementary relation between the Reinforcer Pathology perspective and other current approaches could have a valuable effect.

The therapeutic role of emotion regulation and coping strategies during a stand-alone DBT Skills training program for alcohol use disorder and concurrent substance use disorders

Clinical trials on Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST) as a stand-alone intervention for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed promising outcomes. Improvements in difficulties with emotion regulation (DER) played a mediating role on abstinence maintenance. However, the effect of DER, together with specific coping strategies, have not been considered yet in the treatment of clinical features associated to AUD and concurrent substance use disorders (CO-SUDs). The current study aims at investigating changes in the number of consecutive days of abstinence (CDA), severity of AUD and CO-SUDs (Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire; SPQ alcohol, prescription, illicit drugs subscale), DER (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; DERS) and coping strategies (DBT Way of Coping Checklist; DBT-WCCL) during a 3-month DBT-ST program for the treatment of AUD and CO-SUDs. Furthermore, four independent multiple parallel mediational models were estimated considering scores of CDA/SPQ, DERS and DBT-WCCL dimensions as dependent, independent and mediators variables respectively. One-hundred eight individuals with a primary diagnosis of AUD were consecutively admitted. The results showed significant and moderate to large improvements in CDA, severity of AUD, CO-SUDs and DER. The analyses detected significant improvements in the use of DBT Skills. The changes in DER predicted decreases in SPQ scores. The changes in DBT-WCCL scores were mediators of the previous relationships, considering SPQ alcohol and prescription drugs subscales. These findings support the implementation of DBT-ST as a stand-alone intervention for the treatment of AUD and CO-SUDs. DER together with coping strategies are relevant therapeutic mechanisms in the treatment of clinical features related to SUDs.

A review of behavioral alcohol interventions for transplant candidates and recipients with alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a common indication for liver transplantation. Reflecting growing consensus that early transplant (ie, prior to sustained abstinence) can be a viable option for acute alcoholic hepatitis, access to liver transplantation for ALD patients has increased. Prevention of alcohol relapse is critical to pretransplant stabilization and posttransplant survival. Behavioral interventions are a fundamental component of alcohol use disorder treatment, but have rarely been studied in the transplant context. This scoping review summarizes published reports of behavioral and psychosocial alcohol interventions conducted with ALD patients who were liver transplant candidates and/or recipients. A structured review identified 11 eligible reports (3 original research studies, 8 descriptive papers). Intervention characteristics and clinical outcomes were summarized. Interventions varied significantly in orientation, content, delivery format, and timing/duration. Observational findings illustrate the importance of situating alcohol interventions within a multidisciplinary treatment context, and suggest the potential efficacy of cognitive-behavioral and motivational enhancement interventions. However, given extremely limited research evaluating behavioral alcohol interventions among ALD patients, the efficacy of behavioral interventions for pre- and posttransplant alcohol relapse remains to be established.

Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: A systematic review

A relapsing-remitting course is very common in patients with an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Understanding the determinants associated with alcohol resumption remains a formidable task. This paper examines relapse determinants based on a systematic review of recent alcohol literature (2000-2019). Relevant databases were consulted for articles that contained information about specific relapse determinants and reported statistical significance of each relapse determinant in predicting relapse. Relapse was broadly defined based on the characterization in the included articles. From the initial identified 4613 papers, a total of 321 articles were included. Results encompass multiple relapse determinants, which were ordered according to biopsychosocial and spiritual categories, and presented, using a descriptive methodology. Psychiatric co-morbidity, AUD severity, craving, use of other substances, health and social factors were consistently significantly associated with AUD relapse. Conversely, supportive social network factors, self efficacy, and factors related to purpose and meaning in life, were protective against AUD relapse. Despite heterogeneity in different methods, measures, and sample characteristics, these findings may contribute to a better therapeutic understanding in which specific factors are associated with relapse and those that prevent relapse. Such factors may have a role in a personalized medicine framework to improve patient outcomes.

Engineered Animal Models Designed for Investigating Ethanol Metabolism, Toxicity and Cancer

Excessive consumption of alcohol is a leading cause of lifestyle-induced morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although long-term alcohol abuse has been shown to be detrimental to the liver, brain and many other organs, our understanding of the exact molecular mechanisms by which this occurs is still limited. In tissues, ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde (mainly by alcohol dehydrogenase and cytochrome p450 2E1) and subsequently to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenases. Intracellular generation of free radicals and depletion of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) are believed to be key steps involved in the cellular pathogenic events caused by ethanol. With continued excessive alcohol consumption, further tissue damage can result from the production of cellular protein and DNA adducts caused by accumulating ethanol-derived aldehydes. Much of our understanding about the pathophysiological consequences of ethanol metabolism comes from genetically-engineered mouse models of ethanol-induced tissue injury. In this review, we provide an update on the current understanding of important mouse models in which ethanol-metabolizing and GSH-synthesizing enzymes have been manipulated to investigate alcohol-induced disease.

Predictive value of non-consumption outcome measures in alcohol use disorder treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

For decades, researchers have called for the systematic inclusion of non-consumption outcomes, such as alcohol-related consequences and temptation/craving, in addition to consumption outcomes (e.g. percentage of days abstinent) to evaluate alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment efficacy. However, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for alcohol medications development suggest that non-consumption outcomes may be insensitive to changes that occur within AUD treatment trial assessment windows, although this has never been directly tested. We aimed to measure the predictive value of diagnostically related, non-consumption measures of AUD treatment effects.

METHODS

Pre- to post-treatment effect sizes were examined. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the predictive value of non-consumption outcome measures that were administered in the COMBINE (Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol Dependence) Study and Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatment to Client Heterogeneity) in detecting 12-month outcomes following treatment.

RESULTS

Pre- to post-treatment effect sizes suggested that non-consumption measures changed during the course of treatment; effect sizes for temptation/craving, self-efficacy, consequences and consumption variables were mostly medium to large (medium effect sizes were 0.2 < dz < 0.8, large effect sizes were dz > 0.8). The regression results indicated temptation/craving and self-efficacy predicted 12-month drinking outcomes in COMBINE and MATCH, and drinking consequences predicted 12-month drinking outcomes in COMBINE.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-report measures of temptation and alcohol craving can change as a result of alcohol dependence treatment and can predict drinking outcomes.

Maintenance of World Health Organization Risk Drinking Level Reductions and Posttreatment Functioning Following a Large Alcohol Use Disorder Clinical Trial

Background

Reductions in the World Health Organization (WHO) risk drinking levels have been proposed as an alternative primary outcome for alcohol clinical trials. Yet, little is known about whether reductions in WHO risk drinking levels can be maintained over time. The current study examined whether reductions in WHO risk drinking levels were maintained for up to 1 year following treatment, and whether reductions over time were associated with improvements in functioning.

Methods

Secondary data analysis of individuals with alcohol dependence (n = 1,226) enrolled in the COMBINE study, a multisite, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Logistic regression was used to examine the maintenance of end‐of‐treatment WHO risk level reductions and WHO risk level reductions at the 1‐year follow‐up. Repeated‐measures mixed models were used to examine the association between WHO risk level reductions and functional outcomes over time.

Results

Achieving at least a 1‐ or 2‐level reduction in risk by the end of treatment was significantly associated with WHO risk level reductions at the 1‐year follow‐up assessment (p < 0.001). Among individuals who achieved at least a 1‐level reduction by the end of treatment, 85.5% reported at least a 1‐level reduction at the 1‐year follow‐up. Among individuals who achieved at least a 2‐level reduction by the end of treatment, 77.8% reported at least a 2‐level reduction at the 1‐year follow‐up. WHO risk level reductions were associated with significantly lower alcohol consumption, better physical health (p < 0.01), and fewer alcohol‐related consequences (p < 0.001) up to 1 year following treatment.

Conclusions

One‐ and 2‐level reductions in WHO risk levels during alcohol treatment were maintained after treatment and associated with better functioning over time. These findings support the use of the WHO risk level reductions as an outcome measure that reflects clinically significant improvement in how individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder feel and function.

Abstinence and low risk drinking during treatment: Association with psychosocial functioning, alcohol use, and alcohol problems 3 years following treatment

Abstinence from alcohol is often considered a critical element of recovery from alcohol use disorder. Yet, low risk drinking may be more desirable for some patients. There is mixed literature on whether low risk drinking is achievable and stable. Low risk drinking outcomes during treatment and outcomes 3 years after treatment were examined using data from the outpatient arm in Project MATCH (n = 877). Drinking outcomes were defined by repeated measures latent class analysis of weekly abstinence, low risk drinking days (<4/5 drinks for women/men), and heavy drinking days (≥4/5 drinks for women/men) during 12 weeks of treatment. Functioning outcome measures included psychosocial functioning, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences. Mixture modeling was used to examine the association between drinking classes and functioning outcomes. We identified 7 classes based on drinking during treatment: persistent heavy drinking, abstinence to heavy drinking, abstinence and heavy drinking, heavy drinking to mostly abstinent, low risk and heavy drinking, abstinence and low risk drinking, and abstinence. As compared with heavier drinkers, individuals who achieved mostly abstinence or low risk drinking, even with some heavy drinking episodes during treatment, had significant improvements in alcohol use, alcohol-related consequences, and psychosocial functioning 3 years after treatment. Those who were mostly abstinent or engaged in low risk drinking during treatment did not differ on any outcomes at 3 years after treatment. Findings indicate that low risk drinking is achievable for some individuals during treatment and that improvement in functioning among low risk drinkers can be observed at 3 years after treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record

Reprint of Using ecological momentary assessments to predict relapse after adult substance use treatment

BACKGROUND

A key component of relapse prevention is to self-monitor the internal (feelings or cravings) and external (people, places, activities) factors associated with relapse. Smartphones can deliver ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to help individuals self-monitor. The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a model for predicting an individual's risk of future substance use after each EMA and validate it using a multi-level model controlling for repeated measures on persons.

METHODS

Data are from 21,897 observations from 43 adults following their initial episode of substance use treatment in Chicago from 2015 to 2016. Participants were provided smartphones for six months and asked to complete two to three minute EMAs at five random times per day (81% completion). In any given EMA, 2.7% reported substance use and 8% reported any use in the next five completed EMA. Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was used to classify EMAs into six levels of risk and then validated with a hierarchical linear model (HLM).

RESULTS

The major predictors of substance use in the next five completed EMAs were substance use pattern over the current and prior five EMAs (no recent/current use, either recent or current use [but not both], continued use [both recent and current]), negative affect (feelings), and craving (rating). Negative affect was important for EMAs with no current or recent use reported; craving was important for EMAs with either recent or current use; and neither mattered for EMAs with continued use. The CHAID gradated EMA risk from 0.7% to 36.6% of the next five completed EMAs with substance use reported. It also gradated risk of "any" use in the next five completed EMAs from 3% to 82%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the potential of using smartphone-based EMAs to monitor and provide feedback for relapse prevention in future studies.

Using ecological momentary assessments to predict relapse after adult substance use treatment

BACKGROUND

A key component of relapse prevention is to self-monitor the internal (feelings or cravings) and external (people, places, activities) factors associated with relapse. Smartphones can deliver ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to help individuals self-monitor. The purpose of this exploratory study was to develop a model for predicting an individual's risk of future substance use after each EMA and validate it using a multi-level model controlling for repeated measures on persons.

METHODS

Data are from 21,897 observations from 43 adults following their initial episode of substance use treatment in Chicago from 2015 to 2016. Participants were provided smartphones for six months and asked to complete two to three minute EMAs at five random times per day (81% completion). In any given EMA, 2.7% reported substance use and 8% reported any use in the next five completed EMA. Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) was used to classify EMAs into six levels of risk and then validated with a hierarchical linear model (HLM).

RESULTS

The major predictors of substance use in the next five completed EMAs were substance use pattern over the current and prior five EMAs (no recent/current use, either recent or current use [but not both], continued use [both recent and current]), negative affect (feelings), and craving (rating). Negative affect was important for EMAs with no current or recent use reported; craving was important for EMAs with either recent or current use; and neither mattered for EMAs with continued use. The CHAID gradated EMA risk from 0.7% to 36.6% of the next five completed EMAs with substance use reported. It also gradated risk of "any" use in the next five completed EMAs from 3% to 82%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the potential of using smartphone-based EMAs to monitor and provide feedback for relapse prevention in future studies.

Course of remission from and relapse to heavy drinking following outpatient treatment of alcohol use disorder

BACKGROUND

We sought to understand alcohol behavior change as a process over time by identifying patterns of relapse and remission after outpatient treatment and evaluating how these patterns predict longer-term clinical outcomes.

METHOD

We conducted latent profile analyses using data from the outpatient arm in Project MATCH. Relapse and remission episodes were defined by the number of consecutive 14-day periods that included any heavy drinking days and no heavy drinking days. Indicators of each profile were: initial 2-week post-treatment remission/relapse status, number of remission/relapse transitions in the first year after treatment, duration of remission episodes, and duration of relapse episodes.

RESULTS

We identified 6 profiles: 1) "remission," 2) "transition to remission", 3) "few long transitions," 4) "many short transitions," 5) "transition to relapse," and 6) "relapse." Profile 1 had the best long-term outcomes. Long-term outcomes were not uniform among individuals with at least some heavy drinking (profiles 2 through 6; ∼75% of the sample). Individuals who transitioned back to and sustained periods of remission (profiles 2-4) had better long-term outcomes than those who failed to transition out of relapse (profiles 5-6) following treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-treatment change in alcohol use is a process in which individuals variably transition in and out of "relapse" and "remission" statuses. "Any heavy drinking" following treatment is not necessarily a sign of treatment failure. A more nuanced look at the process of AUD change by considering whether individuals are able to transition to and sustain periods of remission seems warranted.

Effects of Initiating Abstinence from Alcohol on Daily Craving and Negative Affect: Results from a Pharmacotherapy Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Craving and negative affect are distressing and commonly experienced during alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment. Patients may assume that initiating abstinence will intensify their cravings and negative affect despite limited empirical data to support this assumption. This study extends and replicates, under improved methodological conditions, previous work that found reductions in daily craving associated with initiating abstinence.

METHODS

Seventy-eight adults (80.8% male, 57.1% Caucasian) in a clinical trial testing prazosin for AUD provided daily reports of drinking, craving, and negative affect for up to 12 weeks (mean = 64.77 daily reports). Participants were classified into 3 subgroups based on whether and when they initiated 14 days of continuous abstinence, including (i) "abstinence initiators" who quit drinking during treatment (n = 17), (ii) "already abstainers" who were abstinent at the start of treatment (n = 20), and (iii) "continued drinkers" who never initiated abstinence (n = 41). The timing and degree of change in craving and negative affect were compared across these groups using multivariate growth curve modeling.

RESULTS

All participant subgroups reported gradual reductions in craving over the course of treatment, with "abstinence initiators" reporting additional sudden reductions in craving upon initiating abstinence from alcohol. "Continued drinkers" reported higher levels of craving than "already abstainers" throughout the full course of treatment. Negative affect followed a different pattern of change, with "abstinence initiators" experiencing gradual reductions in negative affect after initiating abstinence but no changes prior to or immediately upon initiating abstinence, and with "already abstainers" and "continued drinkers" experiencing no changes in negative affect over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating abstinence is associated with immediate reductions in craving, followed by gradual reductions in both craving and negative affect. Results provide insight into the timing and magnitude of changes in theoretically and clinically important variables and may help patients anticipate when to expect improvement in craving and negative effect.

Does change in self-perceived problem drinker identity relate to change in alcohol use? An examination of nontreatment seeking hazardous drinkers

Identity change is related to reductions in alcohol use among treatment seekers, but it is unclear the extent to which identity change is associated with reductions in alcohol use among nontreatment seeking hazardous drinkers. The goal of the current study was to examine whether change in problem drinker identity (i.e., self-reported identification as a problem or nonproblem drinker) was associated with reductions in heavy drinking among nontreatment seeking hazardous drinkers. Participants (n = 149) completed measures to assess alcohol use and were asked if they identified as a problem drinker at baseline and at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-ups. Two groups were compared: (a) those who identified as a problem drinker at baseline but identified as a nonproblem drinker at 12 months and (b) those who did not make the same transition. Latent mixture modeling was conducted to examine whether change in problem drinker identity was predictive of heavy drinking latent class growth trajectories. The results indicated that a self-reported transition from identification as a problem drinker to identification as a nonproblem drinker was associated with greater reductions in heavy drinking over the assessment period and a 7 times greater likelihood of being in a rapidly decreasing heavy drinking latent trajectory class compared with participants who did not make the same transition. Self-reported transitions in identity appear to be a good predictor of heavy drinking trajectories among nontreatment seekers. A better understanding of what predicts transitions in drinking identity among non-treatment and treatment seekers is needed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Temporal Stability of Heavy Drinking Days and Drinking Reductions Among Heavy Drinkers in the COMBINE Study

BACKGROUND

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to expand the options for primary end points in the development of medications for alcohol use disorder to include either abstinence from alcohol or a nonabstinent outcome: no heavy drinking days (with a heavy drinking day defined as more than 3 drinks per day for women and more than 4 drinks per day for men [>3/>4 cutoff]). The FDA also suggested that 6 months would be the most appropriate length for a clinical trial to demonstrate the stability of this nonabstinent drinking outcome. However, few alcohol clinical trials have examined the stability of nonheavy drinking during and after treatment.

METHODS

In a secondary analysis of the COMBINE study data (n = 1,383), we examined transitions in heavy drinking days during the course of treatment (months 1 through 4), during the transition out of treatment (months 4 through 7), and up to 12 months afterward (months 13 through 16) using latent variable mixture models.

RESULTS

Heavy drinking and nonheavy drinking were relatively stable in consecutive months (minimum agreement [kappa] = 0.64 for months 1 to 2). Most individuals were stable low-risk drinkers/abstainers or heavy drinkers by the end of treatment, as characterized by a 10% probability (or less) of transitioning out of either a no heavy drinking state or a heavy drinking state. More than two-thirds of the heavy drinkers who exceeded the heavy drinking threshold during treatment reported, on average, a 64% reduction in drinking frequency and a 38% reduction in drinking intensity from pretreatment drinking levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show stability of no heavy drinking as an outcome within the first 4 months of treatment and that the >3/>4 drink cutoff may mask substantial reductions in alcohol consumption among some patients. Future studies should explore the clinical utility of reduction end points.

Do Alcohol Relapse Episodes During Treatment Predict Long-Term Outcomes? Investigating the Validity of Existing Definitions of Alcohol Use Disorder Relapse

BACKGROUND

The construct of relapse is used widely in clinical research and practice of alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to test the predictive validity of commonly appearing definitions of AUD relapse in the empirical literature.

METHODS

Secondary analyses of data from Project MATCH and COMBINE were conducted using 7 definitions of "relapse" based on drinking quantity within a single drinking episode: any drinking; at least 4/5 drinks for women/men; at least 4.3/7.1 drinks for women/men; at least 6/7 drinks for women/men; at least 6 drinks; at least 7/9 drinks for women/men; and at least 8/10 drinks for women/men. Relapse was used to predict alcohol consumption, related consequences, and nonconsumption outcomes (quality of life, psychosocial functioning) at the end of treatment and up to 1 year posttreatment.

RESULTS

Regression analyses indicated within-treatment relapse definitions significantly predicted end-of-treatment alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Heavy drinking definitions were generally more predictive than the any drinking definition, but no single heavy drinking definition was consistently a better predictor of outcomes. Relapse definitions were less predictive of longer-term alcohol-related outcomes and both shorter- and longer-term nonconsumption outcomes, including health and psychosocial functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

One particular definition of relapse did not consistently stand out as the best predictor. Advances in AUD research may require reconceptualization of relapse as a multifaceted dynamic process and may consider a wider range of relevant behaviors (e.g., health and psychosocial functioning) when examining the change process in individuals with AUD.