French Validation of the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Relationship with Alcohol Dependence and Drinking Behavior

Abstract

Aim To validate a French translation of the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) that measures craving in patients with alcohol dependence. Method All patients aged > 18 years who were hospitalized for alcohol detoxification from February to May 2019 in the alcohol unit of the Rennes university hospital were eligible. A back-translated version of the AUQ was completed at admission. Patients were interviewed at the end of the 7-day detoxification program by a trained addiction psychiatrist (MS), using tablet computed-based questionnaires assessing state craving (visual analog scale), alcohol dependence severity, drinking behavior, psychological distress and physical/mental health. The same investigator assessed relapse 1 month after discharge. Results A total of 80 inpatients were recruited and completed questionnaires. The single factor structure of the French version of the AUQ was similar to the original questionnaire, and was supported by strong internal reliability and item-scale validity. The AUQ score correlated highly acute craving measure, but moderately scales assessing the severity of alcohol dependence, drinking behavior and mental health. Relapse 1 month after discharge was significantly related to AUQ score assessed either at baseline, or with better estimate at the end of the 7-day detoxification period. Conclusion The French version of the AUQ provides a reliable measure of phasic craving, which is best described as a context-dependent single-factor variable, related to but distinct from tonic craving, dependence severity and drinking behavior. The ease of administration makes the AUQ a useful tool for French-speaking patients with alcohol dependence.

Measuring craving: A systematic review and mapping of assessment instruments. What about sexual craving?

“…The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) [131–133], its French version [134] and the Questionnaire on Craving for Sweet and Rich Food [135] constitute a third family. They are composed of items evaluated on a 7‐point Likert scale.…”

“…The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) [131][132][133], its French version [134] and the Questionnaire on Craving for Sweet and Rich studies [131][132][133] conclude that the structure is unidimensional.…”

The Lack of Influence of Homozygous Long Allele of the 5-HTTLPR Gene on the Severity of Alcohol Craving During 6 Weeks of Rehab Hospitalisation in Comparison to Not Homozygous and Homozygous Short Alleles – Preliminary Report

“…However, the same scale moderately measured severity of addiction itself, drinking behaviour and mental health. 32 …”

“…However, the same scale moderately measured severity of addiction itself, drinking behaviour and mental health. 32 Other studies have found that greater severity of alcohol dependence is associated with greater severity of alcohol craving. 4,33 Of great interest that begs further research into its usefulness in addiction treatment, is our study finding that improvement (reduction in alcohol craving severity, ie, PACS scale scores) occurred to a greater extent among subjects with lower SADD scores (ie, lower severity of alcohol dependence).…”

Predictors of Short-Term Alcohol Drinking in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Study in Three Addiction Outpatient Centers in France

“…The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) is an eight-item self-reported questionnaire that assesses drinking urges [ 18 ] and has been validated in French [ 19 ]. Questions are in the form of a 7-point Likert scale, and participants endorse the extent to which they agree or disagree with statements relating to their desire to drink, expectation of a desired outcome from drinking, and inability to avoid drinking if alcohol is available.…”