Background: Craving for alcohol is a highly controversial subjective construct and may be clarified by Loewenstein's visceral theory, which emphasizes craving's behavioral effects on the relative value of alcohol. Based on the visceral theory, this study examined the effects of a craving induction on the relative value of alcohol as measured by a behavioral choice task. In addition, based on previous evidence of its role in the expression of craving, the influence of DRD4 VNTR genotype (DRD4-L vs. DRD4-S) was also examined.

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Purpose-The Drinking Patterns Questionnaire (DPQ) is a self-report instrument designed to identify high-risk (HR) drinking situations. While prior investigation has established the preliminary psychometric properties of the DPQ, additional research is needed. The current study evaluated the construct validity of the Work-Related, Financial, Parents, and Children subscales of the DPQ as well as the internal consistency of all subscales.Method-One hundred and thirty-four alcohol-dependent inpatients completed a questionnaire packet containing the DPQ, a demographics questionnaire, four measures used to evaluate the convergent validity of DPQ subscales, and three measures of alcohol use disorder symptoms.Results-DPQ subscales evidenced adequate to strong internal consistency (coeffficient alphas of .691 to .921). Significant Pearson's r correlations were found between scores on the WorkRelated, Financial, and Children subscales and those on their corresponding correlate measures. Findings for the validity of the Parents subscale were mixed.Conclusion-Study results provide support for the construct validity for the Work-Related, Financial, and Children subscales and indicate that all DPQ subscales exhibit solid internal consistency.

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