Relapse (disorders)

A relapse (etymologically, "who falls again") occurs when a person is affected again by a condition that affected them in the past. This could be a medical condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis or an addiction to a drug.

For example, if a someone who had problems with alcohol were to give up alcohol and then later start drinking again, this drinking would be considered a relapse.

- For the Spanish Inquisition, a relapse was a Jew who converted to Christianity and later returned to Judaism. This was considered a sin and punished.

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