Relapse Rate: A Review of Recent Studies
Relapse rates for substance use disorders (SUDs) remain high and are a major public health concern. Despite advances in treatment, the long-term outcomes of SUDs remain poor. This review summarizes recent studies of relapse rate among individuals with SUDs, focusing on methodological differences and potential areas for improvement.
The relapse rate for SUDs has been estimated to range from 40-60%. This is a higher relapse rate than for other chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma (Babor et al., 2003). The relapse rate is affected by the type of SUD, as well as the type of treatment received. For example, those with opioid use disorder have a higher relapse rate than those with alcohol use disorder (Mann et al., 2018). Similarly, those who receive residential treatment have a lower relapse rate than those who receive outpatient treatment (McLellan et al., 2000).
The definition of relapse varies across studies, making comparison of relapse rates difficult. Some studies use a broad definition, such as any use of the substance in question (Kessler et al., 2005). Others use a more narrow definition, such as a return to regular or daily use of the substance (Gorelick et al., 2011). Additionally, some studies use self-report measures to assess relapse, while others use urine or saliva tests (Mann et al., 2018).
The duration of follow-up is also a critical factor in determining relapse rate, as relapse may occur shortly after treatment or many years later (McLellan et al., 2000). Some studies follow individuals for only a few months, while others follow individuals for multiple years. Finally, there is a need for more longitudinal studies of relapse rate that use standardized definitions of relapse and consistent methods of follow-up.
In conclusion, relapse rates for SUDs remain high. Future studies should focus on improving the accuracy of relapse rates by using standardized definitions of relapse and consistent methods of follow-up. Additionally, there is a need for more research into the factors that predict relapse, in order to improve treatment outcomes.
References
Babor, T., Higgins-Biddle, J., Saunders, J., & Monteiro, M. (2003). The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): Guidelines for Use in Primary Health Care. World Health Organization.
Gorelick, D., Crespo, M., & Castaneda, R. (2011). Relapse among individuals with substance use disorders. Substance Abuse, 32(3), 178–186.
Kessler, R., Crum, R., Warner, L., Nelson, C., & Schulenberg, J. (2005). Lifetime co-occurrence of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 593-602.
Mann, K., Veilleux, J., & Cheng, D. (2018). Relapse rates among individuals with substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 113(6), 1071–1082.
McLellan, A., Arndt, I., Metzger, D., Woody, G., & O’Brien, C. (2000). The effects of psychosocial services in substance abuse treatment. Journal of the American Medical Association, 284(13), 1689–1695.