Situations Related to Alcoholism Relapse

Abstract

Summary The results of a Principal Components analysis of the Relapse Precipitants Inventory administered to 256 hospitalized alcoholic patients are compared with a reanalysis of data obtained from a different sample 5 years ago. These results indicate that the factor structure of the Inventory is stable over time and with different populations of alcoholic patients. The three factors emerging from the present study, accounting for 55 per cent of the variance were: Unpleasant Mood States External Events and Euphoria Lessened Cognitive Vigilance The factor scores at intake on‘Unpleasant Mood States’and‘External Events and Euphoria', and the total number of situations seen as dangerous were found to have a predictive relationship to subsequent outcome 6 to 12 months later. Some gender differences on relapse precipitants were also found. The clinical application of this instrument is discussed both in terms of prediction of relapse and informing person‐specific treatment programmes.