Coping and Short-Term Outcomes Among Dependent Drinkers

Abstract

Effects of alcohol relapse prevention training on coping to a hypothetical threat of relapse and coping predictive of outcome were examined. Seventeen subjects received a 12-day partial hospital-ization focusing on Traditional (abstinence-based) Treatment (TT) and 20 subjects received TT with Relapse Prevention (TTRP); both groups also received one weekly aftercare session for eight weeks. Subjects were similar in drinking severity, age, gender, race, and employment status at intake. Coping responses to threat of relapse were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and postaftercare. Subjects were telephoned one month postaftercare for data on drinking status, experience of problems, perceived self-efficacy, and treatment satisfaction. The TTRP program increased use of active and decreased use of passive coping, marginally lowered relapse rates, decreased problem severity, increased perceived self-efficacy, and increased treatment satisfaction. Active coping to threat of relapse predicted positive outcomes whereas passive coping predicted negative outcomes.