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Two scales to evaluate cocaine craving
Miguel Angel Muñoz1, Julia A Martínez, Maria Carmen Fernández-Santaella
1University of Granada, Granada, Spain. miguelamuoz@yahoo.es
Substance Use & Misuse
|June 1, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed two brief scales to measure cocaine craving in Spanish-speaking individuals. Both the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-Brief) and the Pictographic Assessment of Desire (PAD) effectively assessed craving levels.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cocaine craving is a significant factor in relapse for individuals with cocaine use disorder.
- Existing measures of craving may not be suitable for all populations, particularly those with language barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate brief, culturally relevant measures of cocaine craving for Spanish-speaking populations.
- To assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-Brief) and the Pictographic Assessment of Desire (PAD).
Main Methods:
- 107 Spanish-speaking individuals undergoing treatment for cocaine abuse or dependence participated.
- Principal component analyses were used to assess the factor structure of the CCQ-Brief (Spanish).
- Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and correlations between scales were calculated. Cue-exposure paradigms were employed in a laboratory setting.
Main Results:
- Principal component analysis supported a one-component solution for the CCQ-Brief (Spanish), explaining 62-68% of the variance.
- High internal consistency was observed for the CCQ-Brief (Spanish) (Cronbach's alpha = .92–.94).
- The CCQ-Brief (Spanish) and PAD demonstrated strong correlations (effect sizes .42–.68) and both scales showed increased craving in response to cocaine-related cues.
Conclusions:
- The CCQ-Brief (Spanish) and PAD are reliable and valid instruments for assessing cocaine craving in Spanish-speaking individuals.
- These scales can be valuable tools for clinicians and researchers evaluating treatment efficacy and understanding craving mechanisms.
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