Motivational factors and negative affectivity as predictors of alcohol craving

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 243; pp. 53 - 60
• Main Authors: Pombo, Samuel, Luísa Figueira, M, Walter, Henriette, Lesch, Otto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 30.09.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol Abstinence - psychology; Alcohol dependence; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Craving; Craving - physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cyclothymic temperament; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation - physiology; Motivation to change; Negative affectivity; Neuroticism; Pessimism - psychology; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychiatry; negative affectivity; craving; motivation to change; alcohol dependence; cyclothymic temperament; Alcohol dependence; Cyclothymic temperament; Craving; Motivation to change; Negative affectivity
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.064

Abstract Craving is thought to play an important role in alcohol use disorders. The recent inclusion of “craving” as a formal diagnostic symptom calls for further investigation of this subjective phenomenon with multiple dimensions. Considering that alcohol-dependent patients compensate negative physical/emotional states with alcohol, the aim of this study is to investigate alcohol craving and its correlation with drinking measures and affective personality dimensions. A sample of 135 alcohol-dependent patients (104 males and 31 females) was collected from a clinical setting. Subjects self-rated their cravings (Penn Alcohol Craving Scale) and the stage of change. Several personality scales were also administered. Craving was related to drinking status , abstinence time, age, and taking steps. After controlling for these conditions, psychological characteristics related to low self-concept, neuroticism, cyclothymic affective temperament, depression, and hostility were found to be predictors of craving in sober alcohol-dependent patients. Our results support craving as a component of the phenomenology of alcohol dependence and highlight the presence of unpleasant feelings as predictors of craving in sober alcohol-dependent patients without co-occurring psychiatric conditions. The predisposition to experience negative emotions may induce a stronger craving response and increase the likelihood of a first drink and a subsequent loss of control.