Relapse by alcohol abusers.

During the first year after treatment, 44% of a sample of alcohol abusers reported relapse to alcohol use. Relapse rate increased to a peak at 6 months after treatment and then declined. Depressed or anxious mood was the reason most frequently given (31%) for relapse. Of subjects who relapsed, almost half (42%) reported a subsequent return to abstinence which was then maintained for the remainder of the followup period. Of these subjects, half (51%) reported the duration of the drinking period to be less than 2 weeks. Of subjects showing a daily drinking pattern prior to treatment, 20% showed a daily drinking pattern after relapse, 46% showed bouts of drinking and abstinence, and 33% showed abstinence with no further drinking. Of subjects showing bouts of drinking prior to treatment, none showed a daily drinking pattern after relapse, 44% showed bouts of drinking and abstinence, and 56% showed abstinence with no further drinking. There was no significant effect of sex or age on relapse rate, time to relapse, or reasons for relapse.