The current study adds to the growing literature in support of alcohol dependence as one of several key predictors of posttreatment drinking. Several other distal and proximal risk factors have been described (Moos and Moos, 2006, 2007; Witkiewitz and Marlatt, 2004). Future research should attempt to evaluate other relapse risk and protective factors (e.g., self-efficacy, coping, social support) within a latent-variable framework to empirically test a general theoretical model of posttreatment drinking outcomes and functioning. In general, the results from the current study need to be cross-validated with a new sample. For example, are the same patterns of drinking observed among individuals in community treatment settings, as well as among individuals who do not receive formal treatment? Conducting these analyses with other populations of drinkers could help clinicians gain an understanding of the relapse process and when individuals are most likely to “fall off the wagon” or get back on.
