Relapse prevention training involves the use of a set of procedures that are designed to minimize relapse following a psychological intervention. Marlatt and Gordon (1985) were responsible for developing a set of relapse prevention strategies for addictive disorders, but the approach has been extended to a broad range of psychological problems including obesity, depression, and criminal behavior. The approach includes the identification of (and preparation for) high-risk situations, rehearsal of coping skills, relapse-crisis debriefing, education, and lifestyle modification. Although there are some encouraging findings in the treatment outcome literature, empirical support for relapse prevention has been mixed and many experimental studies have methodological limitations which prevent strong conclusions at this stage.
