title: Early recovery from alcohol dependence: factors that promote or impede abstinence.
abstract: The objectives of this prospective follow-up study were to identify factors that promote or impede the early recovery process and to examine whether drinking status at 4 weeks predicts later abstinence. Patients with alcohol use disorders were assessed by clinical and semistructured interviews upon entering addiction treatment (N = 175) and were followed up biweekly to monitor their alcohol use. During the first 4 weeks of treatment, 57% (n = 100) of patients slipped or relapsed on alcohol, whereas 43% (n = 75) were fully abstinent. Patients who slipped or relapsed were more likely to report nondependent use of a secondary substance, meet criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis II Cluster B personality disorder, have a higher level of impulsivity, and have more severe social problems at intake. The final logistic regression model accounted for 37% of the variance in drinking status. Patients who slipped or relapsed early in treatment were likely to continue to struggle to maintain abstinence at 12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Addictions Unit, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. dara.charney@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Dara A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zikos
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome