Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Rachel Moore

Abstract

Researchers have shown a relationship between mental health disorders and alcohol dependence. However, only 5-10% of individuals with substance use problems co-occurring with mental health problems are correctly identified. The purpose of this research was to identify predictors of relapse using three different instruments of varying complexity: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Modified Mini Screen (MMS), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Researchers have found that using alcohol produces relief, similar to a pharmacological intervention, from troublesome mental health symptoms that individuals experience. Considering this association, the self-medication hypothesis was the conceptual lens used for the study as it provides a practical framework for analyzing the relationship between mental health disorders and relapse. At the request of this researcher, data were collected on 45 individuals who were provided detoxification services at a public treatment facility in central Wisconsin. Regression analyses were conducted and identified a statistically significant, although weak, predictive relationship between relapse and the variable of depression as measured by the PHQ-9 (R = .311a, R2 = .097, p = .037), and depression as measured by the MCMI-III (R = .364a, R2 = .133, p = .014). The implications for positive social change from this study include the potential to increase the effectiveness and efficiency in identifying co-occurring mental health disorders among individuals who are treated for alcohol detoxification, enhancing the accuracy of referrals for aftercare, and reducing readmissions for detoxification amongst the individuals served.

Download

Share

 
COinS