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Marijuana Craving Questionnaire: development and initial validation of a self-report instrument
S J Heishman1, E G Singleton, A Liguori
1National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. sheih@intra.nida.nih.gov
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|July 7, 2001
Summary
Researchers developed the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) to assess marijuana addiction. The validated 17-item MCQ measures four key dimensions of craving, even without withdrawal symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Science
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Marijuana craving is a significant factor in addiction and relapse.
- Existing measures may not fully capture the multi-dimensional nature of marijuana craving.
- Understanding craving constructs is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a multi-dimensional questionnaire for assessing marijuana craving.
- To identify distinct constructs underlying marijuana craving in individuals not seeking treatment.
Main Methods:
- A 47-item Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) was administered to 217 current marijuana smokers.
- Participants also completed measures of demographics, drug use history, quit attempts, and mood.
- Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine the questionnaire's structure.
Main Results:
- A four-factor solution best represented the item structure, leading to a 17-item MCQ.
- The derived subscales demonstrated good internal consistency and stability across different groups.
- The MCQ subscales correlated significantly with marijuana use history and other craving measures.
Conclusions:
- The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing craving.
- Four constructs characterize marijuana craving: compulsivity, emotionality, expectancy, and purposefulness.
- The MCQ can effectively measure marijuana craving in individuals not seeking treatment, independent of withdrawal.