Chaos theory could help doctors understand the patterns of alcohol abusers.

According to a study, an alcohol abuser showing signs of improvement may actually not be improving, but going through a cycle of relapse.

Pam Frost Gorder, science writer for University Relations, said the chaos theory is used by scientists to find patterns in seemingly random events. The constant cycle of abusers may be explained by this theory.

The experiment conducted by Keith Warren, assistant professor in the College of Social Work, was used to decide the most effective treatment for alcoholism.

The observer from Warren’s team monitored the daily alcohol consumption of a 40-year-old male under treatment for five years. The subject was a known alcohol abuser with a history of alcoholism in his family. About halfway through the study, the subject’s consumption decreased.

“His maximum intake was about 160 ounces a week; but after 800 days, he didn’t drink quite that much,” Warren said.

According to the study, alcohol consumption in an abuser leads to a rebound effect. An increase of consumption one day will lead to a decrease the next, and vice versa.

Warren said most people who are substance abusers have jobs. They think they have control because they go to work each day.

“People have an enormous jump and pull it in to go to work,” Warren said.

With the constant increase and decrease, at some point, the increase becomes too big to sustain. After “lowering” his or her intake, the abuser believes to be in control. Warren said these up-and-down swings contribute to feelings of denial.

When monitored in a treatment facility, these random cycles are deceptive to an abuser and their practitioner. This confusion caused by the disease may result in a patient being released prematurely.

According to the study, some doctors suggest alcoholism can be treated by teaching the abuser to drink in moderation.

John W. Johnson, a certified chemical dependency counselor, said an alcoholic cannot be taught to drink in moderation.

“When they drink, a phenomena occurs that causes cravings to happen,” Johnson said. “They become obsessed with getting the next drink.”

Moderation may not work in these situations and they need something that will help them survive these disturbances.

Warren said when the abuser feels stressed, they want to drink more.

“Something happens in his environment and he jumps up,” Warren said. “Most agree that abstinence is necessary.”

The study shows the cycle abusers go through makes it difficult for them to drink in moderation.

Warren suggested these patterns could also pertain to college students.

“They think they are OK because they are in control every Monday morning,” Warren said.

It is unclear how helpful the results will be to the general public, given that only one subject was tested.