Psychosocial Factors as Predictors of Relapse Rate Among Substance Use Disorders Patients in A Mental Health Facility in Nigeria

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) remain a significant global public health concern, with high relapse rates posing substantial challenges to treatment outcomes. This study examines psychosocial factors, loneliness, perceived stigmatization, and perceived social support as predictors of relapse among SUD patients in Nigeria. Utilizing an ex post facto research design, data were collected from 500 SUD patients through validated instruments measuring loneliness, stigmatization, and social support. The results indicated that loneliness and perceived stigmatization significantly predicted higher relapse rates, aligning with previous research that links these factors to reduced motivation and coping ability. Conversely, perceived social support was found to significantly predict lower relapse rates, highlighting its protective role in fostering recovery. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis revealed that loneliness, perceived stigmatization, and social support jointly accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in relapse rates among SUD patients. These findings underscore the critical importance of addressing psychosocial factors in SUD treatment programs. Integrating interventions to reduce loneliness and stigma while enhancing social support can significantly improve recovery outcomes. Implications for clinical practice and recommendations for future research are discussed, emphasizing the need for multi-site studies and longitudinal designs to generalize and validate these findings further.