A quantitative review of the ubiquitous relapse curve.
The primary goal of this study is to ascertain whether relapse to drug dependence, in terms of continuous abstinence assessment, exhibits a typical pattern that can be characterized by a common quantitative function. If the relapse curve is indeed ubiquitous, then some underlying mechanism must be operating to shape the curve that transcends variables such as drug class, population, or treatment type. Survival analyses are performed on 20 alcohol and tobacco treatment studies using the proportions of individuals remaining abstinent after a period of initial abstinence. Several parametric models of relapse are compared, and the results demonstrate that a log-logistic distribution is the most accurate reflection of the available data and the basic shape of the relapse curve is uniform. In most reports examined, the rate of relapse decelerates after initial abstinence has been achieved, and therefore, the amount of accumulated time abstinent may be the transcending variable that operates to shape the relapse curve.
Animal Behavior and Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT 05439, USA. akirshenbaum@smcvt.edu
Ari P
AP
Kirshenbaum
Darlene M
DM
Olsen
Warren K
WK
Bickel
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015233:Models, Statistical; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors