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ABSTRACT. This article examines relapse by integrating knowledge from the addictive disorders of alcoholism, smoking, and obesity. Commonalities across these areas suggest at least three basic stages of behavior change: motivation and commitment, initial change, and maintenance. A distinction is made between lapse and relapse, with lapse referring to the process (slips or mistakes) that may or may not lead to an outcome (relapse). The natural history of relapse is discussed, as are the consequences of relapse for patients and the professionals who treat them. Information on determinants and predictors of relapse is evaluated, with the emphasis on the interaction of individual environmental, and physiological factors. Methods of preventing relapse are proposed and are targeted to the three stages of change. Specific research needs in these areas are discussed. The problem of relapse remains an important challenge in the fields dealing with health-related behaviors, particularly the addictive disorders. This is true for areas of
Brownell et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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