Relapse Risk in People with Remitted Alcohol Dependence

The rate of relapse among people in remission from alcohol dependence has not been extensively studied. To examine this, researchers assessed alcohol use and alcohol use disorder symptoms over 3 years among 1772 adults who had participated in a national alcohol survey and were in remission from alcohol dependence at baseline.

• At the baseline interview, 25% of subjects drank risky amounts,* 38% drank lower-risk amounts,** and 37% abstained.

• During follow-up, 51% of subjects who drank risky amounts, 27% of subjects who drank lower-risk amounts, and 7% of subjects who abstained reported a recurrence of alcohol use disorder symptoms; 10%, 4%, and 3%, respectively, met criteria for a recurrence of alcohol dependence.

• Recurrence of alcohol use disorder symptoms or alcohol dependence was more likely in younger subjects. It was less likely among patients with a longer duration of remission at baseline.

• In adjusted analyses, subjects who drank risky or lower-risk amounts were more likely than subjects who abstained to report at follow-up recurrent alcohol use disorder symptoms (odds ratios [ORs], 14.6 and 5.8, respectively) and alcohol dependence (ORs, 7.0 and 3.0, respectively).

Comments:

This study shows that relapse is common among people in remission from alcohol dependence and much more likely if they are drinking risky amounts. The results support the need to carefully monitor and support abstinence in people with remitted alcohol dependence.

Kevin L. Kraemer, MD, MSc

Reference:

Dawson DA, Goldstein RB, Grant BF. Rates and correlates of relapse among individuals in remission from DSM-IV alcohol dependence: a 3-year follow-up. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007;31(12):2036–2045.