The Impact of Stressful Life Events on Alcohol Use Relapse: Findings From the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study

Alcohol use relapse is impacted by a variety of environmental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors. We examined the interaction between stressful life events, personality disorder subtype, and alcohol use relapse among individuals enrolled in the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. Negative life events predicted relapse in all participants. In individuals with a history of an alcohol use disorder prior to study entry, positive life events also predicted alcohol use relapse. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) were found to be twice as likely to relapse in response to life stressors compared to individuals with obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), who were half as likely to relapse in response to life stressors. Further analysis revealed that individuals with OCPD and no history of an alcohol use disorder were almost 10 times more likely to relapse in the face of a stressful romantic problem, while those with ASPD and a history of an alcohol use disorder were six times more likely to relapse in response to a stressful financial event. These findings have implications for both the assessment and the treatment of individuals who present with co-morbid personality and alcohol use disorders.