Principles and Practice of Relapse Prevention

There is now a sizable body of literature concerned with the prediction, prevention, and processes of relapse across a wide range of clinical problems. Drawing together this information for the first time, this book takes the clinician and researcher through several these common adult disorders and illustrates the ways in which relapse may be prevented with each one. An ideal resource, the book comprehensively reviews the literature, details specific clinical techniques, and reports on the experimental evaluations of these strategies.

Chapter authors, representing an international array of noted experts, discuss relapse prevention strategies for alcohol problems, smoking, obesity, and anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Separate chapters also cover such clinical problems as depression, panic disorder and agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, sexual deviance, and schizophrenia. Finally, the use of relapse prevention techniques as applied to such complaints as chronic pain, marital problems, social competence, and stuttering is addressed.

Each chapter, focusing on a specific problem, examines its nature, applicable treatment approaches, and the available research evidence on the rate of relapse. Clinical techniques are described, the outcome literature reviewed, and clinical and research recommendation presented. Whenever possible, tables are used to summarize the results of principle studies.

Providing a hands-on guide to the best available techniques for avoiding relapse and maintaining therapeutic effects for a wide array of clinical problems, this volume is an excellent resource for researchers and practitioners alike. Designed for easy reference, it also serves as a text for graduate students in clinical psychology and psychiatry.

Peter H. Wilson, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and coordinator of the Clinical Psychology Program at The Flinders University of South Australia in Adelaide. He received his degree in Psychology at The University of New South Wales and has taught at The University of Western Australia and The University of Sydney. His research interests include cognitive behavioral treatment of depression and the psychological aspects and management of tinnitus and chronic health problems.