The abstinence violation effect and circumstances surrounding relapse as predictors of outcome status in male alcoholic outpatients.

The hypothesis that the cultural delusion among alcoholics--that "one drink makes a drunk"--is critical in determining how the individual copes with a "slip" was examined in a sample of 82 outpatient alcoholics taking part in an abstinence-based alcohol-recovery program. No evidence was found to suggest that the cultural delusion, as measured by the Schaeffer questionnaire, was a factor in predicting postslip drinking behavior. However, circumstances surrounding the first drink--mood state, time of day, place, company, and the number of drinks taken in that session--predicted future drinking status.