Relapse
also known as Recurrence
Medically reviewed by the Shrinkopedia editorial team, led by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA.
1 min read · 136 words
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Relapse is the return of symptoms after a period of improvement. In practice, clinicians distinguish it from recurrence: relapse is a return while still under active treatment or during the vulnerable period after treatment ends, while recurrence is a new episode after full recovery. The distinction matters because the two have different implications for how long to continue treatment.
Where this term appears in Shrinkopedia
- The major depressive disorder entry covers relapse rates after treatment discontinuation and the case for continuation therapy.
- The bipolar disorder entry covers lithium's specific evidence for relapse and suicide prevention.
- The alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder entries cover post-treatment relapse and the role of maintenance medications.
For the plain-language definition of the word itself, see relapse on Shrinktionary, the network's canonical language layer.
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Relapse. Shrinkopedia, medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/relapse/- APA
Shrinkopedia. (2026, July 11). Relapse. Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA. https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/relapse/- MLA
"Relapse." Shrinkopedia, 11 July 2026, https://shrinkopedia.com/terms/relapse/.
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