The measurement of drug craving

Abstract

This paper reviews theoretical and methodological issues in the measurement of drug craving, with an emphasis on self-report assessment. Despite the important role that craving plays in many research and clinical settings, the way in which the construct is conceptualized and measured rarely receives sufficient attention. Issues pertinent to conceptualizing craving are identified. Because there is no single perfect measure of craving, it is essential that researchers understand the limitations of each measure. Measurement performance concerns that affect the validity of different measures are reviewed. Non-verbal assessment methods are also reviewed. Research factors that may help determine the optimal measures for a given study are highlighted. It is concluded that advances in assessment will proceed only when combined with additional research and a better theoretical understanding of craving.

Craving in Intermittent and Daily Smokers During Ad Libitum Smoking

“…Craving was measured with a single item. It has been suggested that multiitem measures have advantages of including broader content (Sayette et al, 2000), but the single item is highly reliable and there is evidence that a single item is as valid as multiitem questionnaires (West & Ussher, 2010).…”

Craving, Cue Reactivity, and Stimulus Control Among Early-Stage Young Smokers: Effects of Smoking Intensity and Gender

“…Several methodological issues from the cue-reactivity literature are relevant to the present discussion (Conklin, Perkins, Robin, McClernon, & Salkeld, 2010;Conklin, Robin, Perkins, Salkeld, & McClernon, 2008;Sayette, Griffin, & Sayers, 2010;Sayette et al, 2000). First, all participants smoked one cigarette prior to testing to equate for time since last cigarette.…”

How Harmonious and Obsessive Passion for Alcohol and Marijuana Relate to Consumption and Negative Consequences

“…Passion is also distinctive from scales that assess temptation and restraint (Collins & Lapp, 1992), which focus more on rumination and strategies for avoiding consumption. In addition, obsessive passion is distinct from urge and craving, which are typically conceptualized to be more time limited, temporary states, whereas passion is conceptualized as being more persistent and stable (Sayette et al, 2000). Hence, the current investigation considers passion's utility in predicting alcohol and marijuana use and related problems among college students.…”