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Related Experiment Videos

"Cravings" are ambiguous: ask about urges or desires.

L T Kozlowski1, R E Mann, D A Wilkinson

  • 1Clinical Institute, Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada.

Addictive Behaviors
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Many individuals with substance use disorders use "craving" to describe any urge, not just strong ones. This ambiguity in craving definitions can impact research and clinical practice.

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Area of Science:

  • Addiction research
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Substance use disorder treatment

Background:

  • The term "craving" is commonly defined as a strong desire.
  • Existing research suggests a discrepancy between the dictionary definition and its use in practice.
  • Understanding patient-reported terminology is crucial in addiction studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the semantic range of the term "craving" among individuals with alcohol and drug problems.
  • To highlight the ambiguity surrounding the definition of "craving" in clinical and research contexts.
  • To advise researchers and clinicians on the conceptual status of "craving".

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of self-reported terminology from two studies involving individuals with alcohol and drug problems.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Qualitative assessment of how "craving" is used to describe substance-related urges.
  • Examination of the frequency and intensity associated with the term "craving".

    • Main Results:

    • A significant proportion of individuals with alcohol and drug problems use "craving" to denote any urge, regardless of intensity.
    • The common usage encompasses weak desires, contradicting the "strong desire" definition.
    • This indicates a broader, less specific application of the term in lived experience.

    Conclusions:

    • The term "craving" is often used ambiguously by individuals with substance use disorders.
    • Researchers and clinicians must be aware of this definitional variability.
    • Clarifying the concept of "craving" is essential for accurate assessment and effective treatment.