Personality profile and Stressful Life Events in AlcoholRelapse Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol dependence is characterised by craving, compulsion, primacy Of drinking over other activities and a state of neuronal adaptation leading to Physical and mental disturbances on withdrawal. One of the most important Problems in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse is relapse. Clinicians Must always realize and be aware that relapse is a distinct possibility which can Happen to anyone who is and has been dependent on alcohol. About 70 to 90% Of clients with alcohol dependence relapse within three months. (Mc Lellan Et al., 2000). Relapse can be better understood as resulting from an interaction of Client-,family-,social-, and treatment related factors. Researches into the causes Of relapse led to classifying relapse determinants into two broad categoriesintrapersonal And interpersonal determinants. Personality traits are an important Intrapersonal determinant of relapse (Sandahl C, 1984). PERSONALITY AND ALCOHOL RELAPSE Allport defined personality as “the dynamic organization within the Individual of those psychosocial systems that determine his unique adjustment To his environment”. Since long it has been hypothesized that personality bears a two way Relationship with relapse. This relationship has been a topic of continuing Debate and has led to varied and inconclusive results. Theories favouring the existence of a separate ‘alcoholic personality’ Have not stood the test of time. However persons with certain personality traits Are more prone for relapse. Neuroticism, novelty seeking, low ego strength and High ergic tension are the variables commonly associated with alcohol relapse When compared with abstaining individuals albeit inconsistently. Adherence to psychosocial interventions, coping skills, attitude towards Recovery and self perception of the ability to withstand stress are important Variables which depend heavily on personality traits of the individuals. Relapse prevention and its treatment form an integral part of Management of alcohol dependence as relapse is a part of the chronic course of The illness. Relapse prevention strategies incorporate various psycho social Interventions and specific coping skills training in the treatment modality. STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS AND ALCOHOL RELAPSE Stress is considered a major contributor to the continuation of alcohol Use as well as relapse. The notion that stressful life events can cause susceptible People to relapse to alcohol use has an intuitive appeal. Many studies that have Determined an association between substance use and stress have been unable To establish a causal relationship between the two. While theoretical and Methodological ambiguities have resulted in inconsistent empirical support of The relationship between personally experienced stress and return to drinking (Allan and Cooke, 1985; Hall et al., 1990), findings indicate that personally Threatening and chronic life stressors elevate the risk for relapse (Brown et al., 1990). Studies are inconsistent regarding the ‘tension reduction hypothesis’ Which posits that people use and relapse to alcohol in order to reduce stress. However alcohol dependent individuals frequently experience stress related to Occupational, legal, social and financial problems and negative events in their Life predicted relapse to alcohol use more than positive life events. Hence the Study of interactions between stressful life events and alcohol relapse has Widespread implications for both assessment and treatment of the patients.