Mental Health Disorders as Predictors of Relapse in Previously Detoxified Individuals

• Main Author: Simonson, Toni Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: ScholarWorks 2015
• Subjects: mental health; relapse; substance abuse; Psychiatric and Mental Health; Psychology
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/503; https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1502&context=dissertations

Researchers have shown a relationship between mental health disorders and alcohol dependence. However, only 5-10% of individuals with substance use problems co-occurring with mental health problems are correctly identified. The purpose of this research was to identify predictors of relapse using three different instruments of varying complexity: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Modified Mini Screen (MMS), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Researchers have found that using alcohol produces relief, similar to a pharmacological intervention, from troublesome mental health symptoms that individuals experience. Considering this association, the self-medication hypothesis was the conceptual lens used for the study as it provides a practical framework for analyzing the relationship between mental health disorders and relapse. At the request of this researcher, data were collected on 45 individuals who were provided detoxification services at a public treatment facility in central Wisconsin. Regression analyses were conducted and identified a statistically significant, although weak, predictive relationship between relapse and the variable of depression as measured by the PHQ-9 (R = .311a, R2 = .097, p = .037), and depression as measured by the MCMI-III (R = .364a, R2 = .133, p = .014). The implications for positive social change from this study include the potential to increase the effectiveness and efficiency in identifying co-occurring mental health disorders among individuals who are treated for alcohol detoxification, enhancing the accuracy of referrals for aftercare, and reducing readmissions for detoxification amongst the individuals served.