IMPULSIVITY AND EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION AS PREDICTORS OF RELAPSE IN ALCOHOL USE DISORDER: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
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Keywords
Alcohol Use Disorder, Relapse, Impulsivity, Emotional Dysregulation, Prospective Study
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic and relapsing condition characterized by high rates of recurrence following treatment. The present prospective study examined whether impulsivity and emotional dysregulation predicted relapse among individuals with AUD. A total of 80 participants (aged 21–60 years) completed structured questionnaires assessing impulsivity and emotional dysregulation at baseline and were followed to determine relapse status. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, point-biserial correlations, and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. During follow-up, 32.5% of participants relapsed. Logistic regression analysis revealed that previous relapse episodes significantly predicted relapse, with each prior relapse increasing the odds of subsequent relapse. Female gender was also identified as a significant predictor. However, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation did not independently predict relapse after adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. These findings suggest that behavioral history may play a more prominent role in relapse vulnerability than trait-level psychological measures alone. The results underscore the importance of detailed relapse history assessment and individualized relapse prevention planning. Further large-scale prospective studies incorporating multimodal assessment approaches are recommended to better clarify the complex psychological and contextual determinants of relapse in AUD.
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