Relapse Prevention Strategies Flashcards

What is the primary goal of relapse prevention therapy (RPT)?

Answer: To teach coping skills that help individuals manage high-risk situations

RPT focuses on teaching coping skills to help individuals identify and manage high-risk situations that could otherwise lead to substance use.

Which theoretical model forms the foundation for most modern relapse prevention approaches?

Answer: Marlatt and Gordon's cognitive-behavioral model

Marlatt and Gordon's cognitive-behavioral model is the foundational framework identifying high-risk situations, coping responses, and self-efficacy as key relapse determinants.

What does the acronym HALT stand for in relapse prevention?

Answer: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired

HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired — four states that increase vulnerability to relapse and require immediate self-care attention.

How is a 'lapse' distinguished from a 'relapse' in recovery?

Answer: A lapse is a brief, isolated return to substance use after a period of abstinence

A lapse is a brief, isolated return to substance use, whereas a relapse involves a more sustained return to problematic patterns of use.

Which cognitive distortion is most associated with the Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE)?

Answer: All-or-nothing thinking after a lapse

The AVE involves all-or-nothing thinking where individuals perceive a single lapse as total failure, which often escalates into full relapse.

What is 'urge surfing' as a relapse prevention technique?

Answer: Mindfully observing cravings without acting on them until they naturally subside

Urge surfing involves mindfully observing cravings as temporary waves of sensation without acting on them, trusting they will peak and subside on their own.

According to Marlatt's research, which category represents the most common high-risk situation for relapse?

Answer: Intrapersonal negative emotional states

Marlatt's research found that intrapersonal negative emotional states such as frustration, anger, or depression account for the largest percentage of relapse triggers.