Negative alcohol expectancy predicts post-treatment abstinence survivorship: the whether, when and why of relapse to a first drink

Jones, B.T. and McMahon, J. (1994) Negative alcohol expectancy predicts post-treatment abstinence survivorship: the whether, when and why of relapse to a first drink. Addiction, 89(12), pp. 1653-1665.

Abstract

Using survival analysis, the association was explored between positive and negative alcohol expectancies measured on admission to a non-residential alcohol dependence treatment unit and post-treatment relapse to a first drink (first slip). A reliable association between negative alcohol expectancy (but not positive) and relapse was found. The active negative alcohol expectancies were distal rather than proximal: proximal expectancies surround consumption ('same day' expectancies) and distal expectancies relate to the 'next-day' following consumption or those longer term expectancies coming from 'continued drinking'. Only the 'next day' component of distal expectancies formed a reliable association with relapse. The use to which negative alcohol expectancy as measured by the Negative Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire might be put is discussed in terms of (i) a bottom-up representation of motivation for recovery to help treatment match and (ii) a provisor of detailed, client-specific information for structuring motivational interventions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jones, Professor Barry
• Authors: Jones, B.T., and McMahon, J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: Addiction