Advancing understandings of remission and approaches to treatment through an examination of untreated remission from alcohol problems

This PhD project conducted by Dr Richard Mellor explored untreated remission of alcohol problems to inform treatment planning.

Remission from alcohol problems is often studied in association with treatment, yet most people who resolve their alcohol problems do so without seeking support. The concept of remission has traditionally been understood in relation to abstinence and binary changes (from an ‘addict identity’ to a ‘recovery identity’), but analysing the lived experiences of people in untreated remission warrants a rethink of these prevailing concepts. Researching untreated remission also has the potential to inform the development of formal and informal treatment across the globe; knowing how many people remit without treatment is vital for treatment planning approaches, and understanding which services are accessed outside of formal alcohol treatment forces a reconsideration of what constitutes ‘alcohol treatment’.

This project involved a systematic review of the rates of untreated remission, a planning tool analysis using the Drug and Alcohol Services Planning Model (DASPM), and an online survey of people in remission from alcohol problems in Australia.

This thesis demonstrated that people experience remission in a variety of ways, often without treatment, but also in connection with a range of formal and informal services outside the scope of formal alcohol treatment. This research complicates straightforward notions of remission and highlights the importance of diversifying the treatment response.

Dr Richard Mellor is a Research Economist at RTI Health Solutions.