GITNUXREPORT 2025

Relapse Statistics

Relapse rates are high across various mental health and addiction treatments.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Relapse in chronic pain management occurs in about 60% of cases within the first year

Statistic 2

Around 40% of patients with chronic pain experience relapse of pain symptoms within 12 months

Statistic 3

The chance of relapse in bipolar disorder increases with comorbid substance use, estimated at around 45-55%

Statistic 4

Nearly 60% of individuals recovering from binge eating disorder relapse within 2 years

Statistic 5

The relapse rate for depression is estimated to be between 50-80%

Statistic 6

About 50% of individuals with bulimia nervosa relapse within 6 months of treatment

Statistic 7

Relapse rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments are around 30-50% within the first year

Statistic 8

The relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder is estimated to be around 60%

Statistic 9

The relapse rate among patients with OCD is approximately 40-50%

Statistic 10

Around 70% of individuals with anorexia nervosa relapse within a year of treatment

Statistic 11

Approximately 15-20% of people with severe mental illness relapse within 6 months

Statistic 12

Relapse rates for bipolar disorder are estimated to be about 60-70% within five years

Statistic 13

About 66% of individuals with social anxiety disorder experience relapse without ongoing treatment

Statistic 14

The relapse rate for schizoaffective disorder is approximately 45-50%

Statistic 15

In a study, 50% of patients with panic disorder relapsed within 12 months of initial remission

Statistic 16

Relapse after intervention for internet gaming disorder occurs in approximately 40%

Statistic 17

About 25-30% of individuals experiencing major depressive episodes relapse within 6 months

Statistic 18

Relapse rates in post-stroke depression are approximately 35-50%

Statistic 19

The relapse rate for treatment-resistant depression after initial response is about 50-60%

Statistic 20

About 66% of people in remission from OCD suffer relapse without ongoing treatment

Statistic 21

The recurrence rate of PTSD symptoms after treatment is around 30%

Statistic 22

Relapse rates for anorexia nervosa can reach up to 70% within five years

Statistic 23

About 45-55% of patients with major depressive disorder relapse within two years of remission

Statistic 24

The relapse rate for social phobia is around 50-60% without maintenance therapy

Statistic 25

Roughly 35-50% of individuals with bipolar disorder relapse within one year without ongoing treatment

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The relapse rate for obsessive-compulsive disorder is estimated to be about 40-50%

Statistic 27

About 60% of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder who stop therapy relapse within a year

Statistic 28

The chronic nature of schizophrenia leads to a relapse rate of approximately 50-80%

Statistic 29

The relapse rate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms is about 45-60% after initial treatment

Statistic 30

About 65% of individuals with social anxiety disorder relapse within a year if untreated

Statistic 31

Nearly 50% of individuals with binge eating disorder relapse within 2 years after treatment

Statistic 32

The relapse rate for post-stroke depression is about 40-55% within 12 months

Statistic 33

About 20-30% of individuals with treatment-resistant depression relapse within 6 months

Statistic 34

Around 40% of people with severe mental illness experience relapse within a year even with treatment

Statistic 35

The relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder without ongoing therapy can be as high as 60%

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The relapse rate for OCD after initial remission ranges from 40-55%

Statistic 37

About 25-35% of patients with treatment-resistant depression relapse within six months

Statistic 38

Approximately 40-60% of individuals with substance use disorders experience relapse at some point in their recovery

Statistic 39

About 70% of individuals with alcohol use disorder relapse within a year of treatment completion

Statistic 40

Relapse rates for opioid addiction are estimated to be between 40-60% after treatment

Statistic 41

Nearly 75% of people recovering from cocaine addiction relapse within the first year

Statistic 42

The average time to relapse after binge drinking is about 6 months

Statistic 43

Relapse rates for smoking cessation are approximately 70% within the first year

Statistic 44

Approximately 55% of individuals recovering from gambling addiction relapse within the first year

Statistic 45

About 45% of patients with alcohol dependence relapse within the first three months of treatment

Statistic 46

The relapse rate for opioid use disorder after inpatient treatment is roughly 30-50% within the first year

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Roughly 50% of individuals recovering from heroin addiction relapse within a year

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The relapse rate among people with cannabis use disorder is estimated to be 60-70%

Statistic 49

In alcohol relapse studies, the median time to relapse is approximately 3 months

Statistic 50

Approximately 28% of alcohol relapse occurs within the first 30 days post-treatment

Statistic 51

The relapse rate for gambling disorder post-treatment is approximately 55-70%

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The relapse rate for cannabis dependence is estimated to be around 70% within the first year

Statistic 53

Approximately 50-70% of individuals with alcohol dependence relapse within the first year post-treatment

Statistic 54

The median time to relapse for alcohol dependence after treatment is approximately 3 to 5 months

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Key Highlights

  • Approximately 40-60% of individuals with substance use disorders experience relapse at some point in their recovery
  • The relapse rate for depression is estimated to be between 50-80%
  • About 70% of individuals with alcohol use disorder relapse within a year of treatment completion
  • Relapse rates for opioid addiction are estimated to be between 40-60% after treatment
  • Nearly 75% of people recovering from cocaine addiction relapse within the first year
  • The average time to relapse after binge drinking is about 6 months
  • Relapse rates for smoking cessation are approximately 70% within the first year
  • About 50% of individuals with bulimia nervosa relapse within 6 months of treatment
  • Relapse rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments are around 30-50% within the first year
  • The relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder is estimated to be around 60%
  • Approximately 55% of individuals recovering from gambling addiction relapse within the first year
  • The relapse rate among patients with OCD is approximately 40-50%
  • About 45% of patients with alcohol dependence relapse within the first three months of treatment

Did you know that relapse rates for mental health and substance use disorders soar as high as 80%, underscoring the complex and persistent nature of recovery?

Behavioral and Lifestyle-Related Relapses

  • Relapse in chronic pain management occurs in about 60% of cases within the first year

Behavioral and Lifestyle-Related Relapses Interpretation

With a relapse rate of about 60% within the first year, chronic pain management resembles a marathon more than a sprint—highlighting the need for sustained, adaptable strategies rather than quick fixes.

Chronic and Co-morbid Conditions

  • Around 40% of patients with chronic pain experience relapse of pain symptoms within 12 months
  • The chance of relapse in bipolar disorder increases with comorbid substance use, estimated at around 45-55%

Chronic and Co-morbid Conditions Interpretation

These relapse statistics serve as a stark reminder that managing chronic conditions like pain and bipolar disorder requires not only addressing the primary illness but also diligently monitoring comorbidities, because when relapse hits—whether at 40% for pain or nearly half for bipolar with substance use—the road to stability becomes significantly more arduous.

Mental Health Conditions and Disorders

  • Nearly 60% of individuals recovering from binge eating disorder relapse within 2 years

Mental Health Conditions and Disorders Interpretation

With nearly 60% of those recovering from binge eating disorder relapsing within two years, these statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced long-term support and intervention strategies to sustain recovery.

Psychiatric Treatment Outcomes and Remission

  • The relapse rate for depression is estimated to be between 50-80%
  • About 50% of individuals with bulimia nervosa relapse within 6 months of treatment
  • Relapse rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments are around 30-50% within the first year
  • The relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder is estimated to be around 60%
  • The relapse rate among patients with OCD is approximately 40-50%
  • Around 70% of individuals with anorexia nervosa relapse within a year of treatment
  • Approximately 15-20% of people with severe mental illness relapse within 6 months
  • Relapse rates for bipolar disorder are estimated to be about 60-70% within five years
  • About 66% of individuals with social anxiety disorder experience relapse without ongoing treatment
  • The relapse rate for schizoaffective disorder is approximately 45-50%
  • In a study, 50% of patients with panic disorder relapsed within 12 months of initial remission
  • Relapse after intervention for internet gaming disorder occurs in approximately 40%
  • About 25-30% of individuals experiencing major depressive episodes relapse within 6 months
  • Relapse rates in post-stroke depression are approximately 35-50%
  • The relapse rate for treatment-resistant depression after initial response is about 50-60%
  • About 66% of people in remission from OCD suffer relapse without ongoing treatment
  • The recurrence rate of PTSD symptoms after treatment is around 30%
  • Relapse rates for anorexia nervosa can reach up to 70% within five years
  • About 45-55% of patients with major depressive disorder relapse within two years of remission
  • The relapse rate for social phobia is around 50-60% without maintenance therapy
  • Roughly 35-50% of individuals with bipolar disorder relapse within one year without ongoing treatment
  • The relapse rate for obsessive-compulsive disorder is estimated to be about 40-50%
  • About 60% of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder who stop therapy relapse within a year
  • The chronic nature of schizophrenia leads to a relapse rate of approximately 50-80%
  • The relapse rate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms is about 45-60% after initial treatment
  • About 65% of individuals with social anxiety disorder relapse within a year if untreated
  • Nearly 50% of individuals with binge eating disorder relapse within 2 years after treatment
  • The relapse rate for post-stroke depression is about 40-55% within 12 months
  • About 20-30% of individuals with treatment-resistant depression relapse within 6 months
  • Around 40% of people with severe mental illness experience relapse within a year even with treatment
  • The relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder without ongoing therapy can be as high as 60%
  • The relapse rate for OCD after initial remission ranges from 40-55%
  • About 25-35% of patients with treatment-resistant depression relapse within six months

Psychiatric Treatment Outcomes and Remission Interpretation

Given the staggering relapse rates—some soaring past 70%—it's clear that in mental health, remission is often just the calm before the inevitable storm, underscoring the critical importance of sustained treatment and support.

Substance Use and Addiction Relapse

  • Approximately 40-60% of individuals with substance use disorders experience relapse at some point in their recovery
  • About 70% of individuals with alcohol use disorder relapse within a year of treatment completion
  • Relapse rates for opioid addiction are estimated to be between 40-60% after treatment
  • Nearly 75% of people recovering from cocaine addiction relapse within the first year
  • The average time to relapse after binge drinking is about 6 months
  • Relapse rates for smoking cessation are approximately 70% within the first year
  • Approximately 55% of individuals recovering from gambling addiction relapse within the first year
  • About 45% of patients with alcohol dependence relapse within the first three months of treatment
  • The relapse rate for opioid use disorder after inpatient treatment is roughly 30-50% within the first year
  • Roughly 50% of individuals recovering from heroin addiction relapse within a year
  • The relapse rate among people with cannabis use disorder is estimated to be 60-70%
  • In alcohol relapse studies, the median time to relapse is approximately 3 months
  • Approximately 28% of alcohol relapse occurs within the first 30 days post-treatment
  • The relapse rate for gambling disorder post-treatment is approximately 55-70%
  • The relapse rate for cannabis dependence is estimated to be around 70% within the first year
  • Approximately 50-70% of individuals with alcohol dependence relapse within the first year post-treatment
  • The median time to relapse for alcohol dependence after treatment is approximately 3 to 5 months

Substance Use and Addiction Relapse Interpretation

While addiction recovery is often portrayed as a triumphant journey, statistics reveal that for many, relapse—whether at three months or beyond—remains an unwelcome but persistent chapter, reminding us that resilience must often be paired with relentless support and understanding.