Relapse following treatment for stuttering: A critical review and correlative data

Scientific research into relapse following treatment for stuttering in the speech and stuttering modification literature has been scarce. A critical review of data-based research revealed two methods of studying relapse. In one approach, attempts are made to isolate predictors of relapse; in the second, the effectiveness of strategies that reduce the risk of relapse are evaluated. In addition to the critical review, original data are presented to illustrate the relative and combined importance of several predictors of long-term fluency in four groups of adults who stutter. Independent variables included demographics, frequency of stuttering, speech rate, personality, locus of control, speech attitudes and participation in anti-relapse activities. The data reveal few factors that could be considered reliable determinants of relapse, although the results are in agreement with findings reported elsewhere, namely, that several factors in combination may provide a reasonably valid prediction of relapse. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.