CRC Relapse Prevention Strategies 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of relapse prevention therapy (RPT)?
- To eliminate all cravings permanently
- To teach coping skills that help individuals manage high-risk situations (Correct answer)
- To prescribe medication to reduce withdrawal symptoms
- To separate individuals from their social networks
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which theoretical model forms the foundation for most modern relapse prevention approaches?
- Erikson's psychosocial development model
- Marlatt and Gordon's cognitive-behavioral model (Correct answer)
- Maslow's hierarchy of needs
- Kübler-Ross grief model
Correct 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.
Question 3: What does the acronym HALT stand for in relapse prevention?
- Happy, Angry, Lonely, Tired
- Hungry, Anxious, Lonely, Triggered
- Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired (Correct answer)
- Hopeless, Angry, Lost, Traumatized
Correct 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.
Question 4: How is a 'lapse' distinguished from a 'relapse' in recovery?
- A lapse is a complete return to pre-treatment levels of substance use
- A lapse is a brief, isolated return to substance use after a period of abstinence (Correct answer)
- A lapse is a planned break from sobriety with medical supervision
- A lapse is a permanent abandonment of recovery goals
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which cognitive distortion is most associated with the Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE)?
- Minimization of substance use consequences
- All-or-nothing thinking after a lapse (Correct answer)
- Rationalization of continued substance use
- Projection of blame onto others
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is 'urge surfing' as a relapse prevention technique?
- Distracting oneself from cravings with intense physical exercise
- Calling a sponsor immediately when experiencing strong urges
- Mindfully observing cravings without acting on them until they naturally subside (Correct answer)
- Avoiding all situations that might trigger cravings
Correct 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.
Question 7: According to Marlatt's research, which category represents the most common high-risk situation for relapse?
- Social pressure from others to use substances
- Intrapersonal negative emotional states (Correct answer)
- Interpersonal conflict with family members
- Physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings
Correct 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.
CRC Relapse Prevention Strategies 1
What is the primary goal of relapse prevention therapy (RPT)?