Negative alcohol expectancy predicts post-treatment abstinence survivorship: the whether, when and why of relapse to a first drink.
Using survival analysis, the association was explored between positive and negative alcohol expectancies measured on admission to a non-residential alcohol dependence treatment unit and post-treatment relapse to a first drink (first slip). A reliable association between negative alcohol expectancy (but not positive) and relapse was found. The active negative alcohol expectancies were distal rather than proximal: proximal expectancies surround consumption ('same day' expectancies) and distal expectancies relate to the 'next-day' following consumption or those longer term expectancies coming from 'continued drinking'. Only the 'next day' component of distal expectancies formed a reliable association with relapse. The use to which negative alcohol expectancy as measured by the Negative Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire might be put is discussed in terms of (i) a bottom-up representation of motivation for recovery to help treatment match and (ii) a provisor of detailed, client-specific information for structuring motivational interventions.
Jones
B T
BT
Department of Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK.
McMahon
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012008:Recurrence; D012718:Set, Psychology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*