Relapse Prevention: Introduction and Overview of the Model

Abstract

Summary As an introductory overview of the Relapse Prevention (RP) model, this article briefly describes the conceptual and clinical features of the RP approach to altering excessive or addictive behaviour patterns. In contrast with traditional approaches that overemphasize initial habit change, RP focuses more on the maintenance phase of the habit change process. From this perspective, relapse is not viewed merely as an indicator of treatment failure. Instead, potential and actual episodes are key targets for both proactive and reactive intervention strategies. RP treatment procedures include specific intervention techniques designed to teach the individual to effectively anticipate and cope with potential relapse situations. Also included are more global lifestyle interventions aimed at improving overall coping skills and promoting health and well being. Important questions raised by this relatively recent alternative to traditional approaches are discussed.

Stimulus conditioned to foot-shock stress reinstates alcohol-seeking behavior in an animal model of relapse

“…Two major factors have been implicated as critically contributing to relapse risk: stressful life events and exposure to environmental stimuli previously associated with the subjective effects of drugs of abuse. Stress has an established role in the initiation and maintenance of drug abuse and is an important determinant of relapse in abstinent addicts (Marlatt and George 1985;Brown et al 1995;Sinha et al 2000). In humans, subjective reactivity to specific environments or situations associated with stressful events has been implicated in triggering drug seeking and relapse (Cooney et al 1997;Sinha and O'Malley 1999;Sinha et al 2000).…”

The Effect of Compliance on Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Dysphagia on Videofluoroscopy

“…The limitations of this study were the small sample size, the use of hospital inpatients, and the short time since dysphagia management advice had been given. It is known that compliance decreases with time [15,16].…”

The Impact of Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance on Weight-Related Affect and Well-Being in Participants of a Commercial Weight Management Programme

“…Self-critical versus self-reassuring responses to difficult situations during weight management attempts may be important in aligning emotion regulation to benefit self-regulation [25]. Recent relapse prevention models [26,27,28] now include third-wave psychotherapeutic approaches (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [29], Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy [30] and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) [31]) because there is growing evidence that learning to accept and manage emotional responses to stresses associated with relapse can create opportunities for behavioural self-regulation [32,33,34,35,36,37]. Self-regulation of behaviour for weight management may be supported by strategies that promote stress management and emotion regulation inter alia through self-reassuring compassionate abilities [8,18,23,33,34,35,38,39,40].…”