Relapse Prevention Strategies

Do you find that you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired frequently  

Have you been testing your will or resolve by going places or doing things that you used to do when using drugs  

Are you experiencing a great deal of conflict or stress at home, at school or work, or somewhere else in your life  

Are you losing your confidence in you ability to cope with your problems without using drugs  

Have you been experiencing urges or cravings and not telling anyone about them  

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In addition, stimulus-control and cue-exposure techniques (see Chapter 5) can be used effectively as relapse prevention strategies. Stimulus control means that the client learns how to control her or his level of exposure, and under what conditions, to a particular cue that had been associated with drug use. Cue exposure, as you may remember, uses exposure and response-prevention strategies in session to reduce the power of a drug-use cue to trigger cravings or urges to use. 

Relapse prevention skills and strategies the recovering addict should develop a menu of options, a toolbox of coping skills... 

Family involvement can be quite helpful in the relapse prevention effort. One potentially useful strategy is for families to make efforts to reduce relationship stressors. These efforts will likely require couples or family therapy, which ideally will improve communication within the family system and potentially reduce friction. In addition, family members may learn to reduce any negatively expressed emotions toward the client. Family and couples therapy would be highly recommended if those stressors represent a high-risk situation for the client in question and if the family members or partner are supportive of the client s efforts toward recovery. 

Marlatt, G. A. (1985). Relapse prevention Theoretical rationale and overview of the model. In G. A. Marlatt J. R. Gordon (Eds.), Relapse prevention Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors (pp. 3-70). New York Guilford Press. 

Marlatt GA Gordon JR (eds.) (1985). Relapse Prevention Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviours. New York Guilford Press... 

In the relapse prevention phase, the individual is taught skills and strategies for dealing with a possible relapse (as outlined in the section on relapse prevention in Chapter 3). In the follow-up phase, the clinician and the patient work together to monitor the patient s functioning and provide the structure necessary for the patient to maintain the gains that have been made. 

As with ALL, the primary aim in treating patients with AML is to induce remission and thereafter prevent relapse. Treatment of AML is conventionally divided into two phases induction and postremission. Despite several strategies to increase the... 

Natural reinforcers and drugs of abuse use similar circuits 912 The neuronal circuitry underlying drug craving has been intensely studied to develop strategies for preventing relapse 912... 

I recommend reading Rebpse Prevention, by G. Alan Marlatt and Judith Gordon (New York Guilford Press, 1985). Although many books have been written since this one, this is the original classic that introduced the relapse model and prevention methods we still use today. These strategies have been scientifically validated for many years now. A new edition of this book edited by Marlatt and Dennis Donovan is due out soon. 

In the event of relapse, patients often cycle through the detoxification (depending on the duration and intensity of the relapse) and rehabilitation phases of treatment. However, they should be advised that a relapse does not necessarily mean they are starting over and they need not feel too disheartened. Instead, a relapse can be viewed as a learning experience. The circumstances that led to the relapse can be reviewed, identified, and utilized for the development of better strategies to prevent subsequent relapses. 

STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION OF RELAPSE OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER... 

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