Craving predicts use during treatment for methamphetamine dependence: a prospective, repeated-measures, within-subject analysis.

摘要: Clinical lore dictates that craving drives the compulsive use of drugs and alcohol - core feature substance dependence. Yet limited research has yielded mixed results, suggesting is neither necessary nor sufficient for continued or relapse to addictive substances. To investigate role in methamphetamine use, 31 men women treatment dependence were asked indicate, once each week 12 weeks, severity they had experienced during previous 24 h, using a 100-mm visual analog scale. In prospective, repeated-measures, within-subject analysis, intensity significantly predicted immediately following report. Craving remained highly significant predictor multivariate models controlling pharmacological intervention, prior week. scores preceded 2.7 times higher than abstinence. Risk subsequent was 2.5 greater upper half scale relative lower half. The results obtained demonstrate that, while alone may be explain addiction, when measured prospectively carefully-designed study emerges as salient predictive factor patients