Page 18 - JCBP-3-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Alcohol use disorder relapse: Tools and factors

1. Introduction including China National Knowledge Infrastructure and
Wanfang, were searched using relevant terms to identify
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are chronic, recurrent Chinese-language literature.
mental disorders characterized by compulsive alcohol
abuse and a loss of control over alcohol intake. With Inclusion criteria were established to select literature
1
economic development, the incidence of AUDs continues that comprehensively considers studies from China and
to rise worldwide, now accounting for 4.9% of substance other countries, focusing on research related to AUDs,
abusers. From 2010 to 2012, the drinking rates for men relapse factors, and care. The selected studies should cover
2
and women over the age of 15 in China were 54.6% and population characteristics in different regions, the impact
13.3%, respectively, with daily drinking rates reaching of cultural backgrounds on AUDs and relapse, as well as
25.7% and 10.9%, respectively. These trends pose corresponding care measures and outcomes. Literature
significant risks to personal health and social stability. that was duplicated, of low quality, had unreasonable
3
Tucker et al.’s survey in 2020 showed that approximately research designs, or solely focused on a single country
4
one-third of the United States population had received a without cross-country comparisons or comprehensive
lifelong diagnosis of AUDs. Chou et al.’s research in 2023 analyses was excluded.
5
revealed that the prevalence of AUDs in the United States
was as high as 9.7% in December, whereas in South Korea, 2.2. Data extraction
it was 7.1%. According to the Global Burden of Disease Information was extracted from the selected literature,
2013 Risk Factors Collaborators, approximately 95 million including patients’ basic information, characteristics of
people worldwide suffer from alcohol dependence. While AUD, relapse-related factors, care measures, and outcomes.
6
most patients with AUDs can successfully quit drinking
after treatment, a considerable number experience relapse 2.3. Comprehensive review
shortly after discharge, leading to a recurrence of the The review was conducted from three perspectives:
disorder. sociodemographic, individual, and social factors.

Relapse refers to the return to alcohol consumption after For sociodemographic factors, differences in AUDs and
successfully quitting during the acute withdrawal period, relapse across various age, gender, and occupation groups
7
despite maintaining abstinence for some time. Various were examined. For example, young people, due to their
factors contribute to this failure to control drinking, active social lives, have more opportunities to drink. In
ultimately leading to the restoration of AUDs. At present, some occupations, frequent social engagements increase
7
the mechanisms underlying relapse in AUD patients the risk of relapse.
remain unclear, but it is well-established that long-term
heavy drinking causes significant damage to the central For individual factors, the impact of genetic
nervous system and leads to various mental disorders. susceptibility, psychological states (such as anxiety and
Therefore, accurate assessment of alcohol withdrawal, early depression), and drinking habits on the disorder and
identification of relapse risks, and an understanding of the relapse were explored. For instance, individuals with a
factors influencing relapse are essential for maintaining family history of AUD and vulnerable psychological states
abstinence, reducing relapse rates, and improving patients’ are more likely to relapse.
quality of life. This review aims to provide an update on For social factors, the roles of social support systems,
the latest research regarding established assessment tools cultural customs, and policies and regulations were
and relapse determinants, as well as to identify novel examined. For example, a strong social support system can
tools and factors. Our findings may contribute to current reduce relapse rates, while regions with a strong drinking
treatment practices and serve as a reference for health-care culture may present a higher risk for developing AUD.
professionals in promoting successful abstinence for AUD
patients. 2.4. Content review

2. Methods The relevance of the literature to care for AUDs and relapse-
influencing factors was evaluated. The review assessed
2.1. Literature search and selection whether the literature comprehensively elaborated on the
PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane three types of influencing factors and their corresponding
Library were searched using terms such as “alcohol use care strategies. Innovation, such as the identification of
disorder,” “relapse,” “factors,” and “tools or questionnaires” new influencing factors or unique care strategies, was also
for English-language literature published from January examined. The accuracy of the data was verified to ensure
1990 to August 2024. In addition, Chinese databases, the reliability of the underlying research.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 12 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.6559