A test of the abstinence violation effect in exercise relapse : the relationship between attributions, self-efficacy, and exercise adherence

Unconscious cravings may turn into the conscious thought that the drug or alcohol is all you need to cope. When one returns to substance use after a period of abstinence, they experience a negative cognitive and affective reaction known as an abstinence violation effect in psychotherapy. An individual may experience uncontrollable, stable abstinence violation effect definition attributions and feelings of shame and guilt after relapsing as a result of AVE. Staying clean from drugs and alcohol or abstaining from unwanted behaviors is part of living a balanced life. The Abstinence Violation Effect is when there is any deviation from a desired behavior goal and this deviation is viewed as a total failure.

Adapted from ‘An introduction to concept mapping for program planning and evaluation’ by W. Having a solid support system of friends and family who are positive influences can help you to remain steady within your recovery. Access to aftercare support and programs can also help you to avoid and recover from the AVE. The abstinence violation effect is also considered an immediate factor of relapse. (b) Restrained eaters whose diets were broken by a milkshake preload showed increased activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) compared to restrained eaters who did not consume the preload and satiated non-dieters [64].

Environmental manipulation and behavioural counseling

By the end of treatment, most gamblers will have experienced a prolonged abstinence from gambling. This realisation reduces the abstinence violation effect and ensures that patients no longer adhere to the “one drink, one drunk” mentality which leaves them at risk for relapse. Two publications, Cognitive Behavioral Coping Skills Training for Alcohol Dependence (Kadden et al., 1994; Monti, Kadden, Rohsenow, Cooney, & Abrams, 2002) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Addiction (Carroll, 1998), are based on the RP model and techniques. Although specific CBT interventions may focus more or less on particular techniques or skills, the primary goal of CBT for addictions is to assist clients in mastering skills that will allow them to become and remain abstinent from alcohol and/or drugs (Kadden et al., 1994).

Coping planning has been shown to be an efficacious technique to promote health behavior change, especially when individuals receive support when forming coping plans (Kwasnicka, Presseau, White, & Sniehotta, 2013). Therefore, we advise health practitioners to support their clients by helping them to identify personal risk situations and formulating corresponding coping plans. Cognitive behaviour therapy is a structured, time limited, psychological intervention that has is empirically supported across a wide variety of psychological disorders.

Behavioral Treatments for Smoking

For the health practitioners, all new statements were directly entered into the online software. After the sessions with the persons who regained weight, one of the researchers (ER) entered the data in Ariadne. Principles of relapse prevention have been used in the treatment of sex offenders. In a meta-analysis by Carroll, more than 24 RCT’s have been evaluated for the effectiveness of RP on substance use outcomes. Review of this body of literature suggests that, across substances of abuse but most strongly for smoking cessation, there is evidence for the effectiveness of relapse prevention compared with no treatment controls.

These interventions integrate both cognitive behavioural and mindfulness based strategies. Cultural adaptation of therapeutic programmes developed in western are important. The greatest strength of cognitive behavioural programmes is that they are individualized, and have a wide applicability. Outcome expectancies can be defined as an individual’s anticipation or belief of the effects of a behaviour on future experience3. The expected drug effects do not necessarily correspond with the actual effects experienced after consumption.

Step 4. Representation of statements (statistical analysis)

Although more research on the predictors of relapse in weight loss maintenance behaviors is recommended, careful implications for practice can be made. Clients are more likely to be satisfied and follow advice on health behavior change when they feel they have been heard and understood, and are given information they recognize as relevant to them (Gable, 2007). Planning coping responses to anticipated, personal, high-risk situations helps an individual to cope with difficult situations, such as negative emotions or being tempted by their social or physical environment (Sniehotta, Schwarzer, Scholz, & Schüz, 2005).

Patterns of movement through the various stages are categorized as stable, progressive or unstable11. Using the Ariadne-software, the structured statements were transformed, per subgroup, into a matrix representing the similarity between statements for each participant. All the individual matrices were then transformed into one matrix representing all the individuals in that subgroup.

Relapse prevention

But in the long run we each need to decide what is really important to be doing and commit ourselves to acting on those values, taking us each in our own valued life directions. If you’re worried you might be heading towards a lapse or full-blown relapse, don’t struggle with this alone. If you’re currently lost within the confusion of the abstinence violation effect, we can help. We can give you resources to help you create or tweak your relapse prevention plan.