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Daily cocaine craving in a 3-week inpatient treatment program
Q Flowers1, I R Elder, J Voris
1Dorn Veterans Hospital, Addictions Treatment Unit, Columbia, SC 29201.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Veteran cocaine addicts in treatment reported low craving and symptoms. Perceived health status was the strongest predictor of cocaine craving, challenging internal craving source theories. Further implications are discussed.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Clinical psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cocaine addiction is a significant public health issue.
- Understanding craving triggers is crucial for effective treatment.
- Previous research often links craving to internal states like mood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cocaine craving and related symptomatology in male veterans during inpatient treatment.
- To identify predictors of cocaine craving, focusing on mood, energy, and perceived health.
- To examine the relationship between craving and depression in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 15 male veteran cocaine addicts participated.
- Data on cocaine craving, mood, energy, and perceived health were collected daily for 23 days.
- Multiple regression analyses were employed to determine predictor variables.
Main Results:
- Participants reported minimal cocaine craving and other withdrawal symptoms.
- Perceived health status emerged as the most significant predictor of cocaine craving.
- The commonly suggested link between craving and depression was not strongly supported.
Conclusions:
- Cocaine craving may be influenced by factors beyond internal states, such as perceived health.
- The findings challenge the exclusive focus on internal sources for craving.
- Further research is needed to explore the multifaceted nature of addiction and craving.