Relapse happens when problem behavior that was previously treated successfully comes back. This can lead to more injuries and require more intensive care. Understanding how treatment procedures may cause or prevent relapse is crucial.
What is Relapse?
Relapse means the return of problem behavior after it has been treated. There are different types of relapse:
Resurgence: When an old behavior comes back because a new behavior is no longer rewarded.
Renewal: When a behavior returns in a new setting, even though it was stopped in the original setting.
Reinstatement: When a behavior comes back after the original reward is given again.
Examples of Relapse:
Resurgence: A child who learned to ask for toys nicely might start having tantrums again if asking nicely stops getting them toys.
Renewal: A dog trained to sit in the living room might not sit when in the backyard.
Reinstatement: A person who quit smoking might start again after a stressful event.
How Researchers Test for Relapse: Researchers use a three-step process to see if relapse happens:
Baseline (Phase 1): The problem behavior gets rewarded.
Intervention (Phase 2): The behavior is stopped using a treatment.
Treatment Challenge (Phase 3): Conditions are changed to see if the behavior comes back. If it does, that's relapse. If it doesn’t, the treatment worked well.
Ways to Prevent Relapse: Clinicians can use several methods to prevent relapse:
Multiple-Context Training: Practicing the behavior in different places to prevent renewal.
Booster Sessions: Regular follow-up sessions to reinforce the behavior.
Reinforcement Thinning: Gradually reducing rewards to make the behavior last longer.
Examples of Preventing Relapse:
Multiple-Context Training: Practicing good behavior with a child at home, school, and the park.
Booster Sessions: Regular check-ins with a client to reinforce coping strategies.
Reinforcement Thinning: Starting with frequent rewards and slowly reducing them.
Planning for Relapse: Clinicians should plan for possible relapse by including prevention strategies in their treatment plans. This proactive approach helps clients handle changes in their environment better.