Journal article
Daily ratings measures of alcohol craving during
an inpatient stay define subtypes of alcohol
addiction that predict subsequent risk for resumption of drinking
The purpose of this study was to examine the course of affective symptoms and cravings for alcohol use during the initial 25 days of residential treatment for middle aged and older adults addicted to alcohol and the relationship between these symptoms and recovery outcomes. During treatment 95 alcohol dependent patients completed a daily diary measuring alcohol craving and positive and negative affect. They were interviewed 1 and 6 months after discharge to assess substance use and life functioning. Latent class analysis of craving data identified 3 groups of patients: those reporting elevated craving throughout treatment, those who reported high craving at the beginning of treatment but lower craving at the end of treatment, and those who reported low craving throughout treatment. Alcohol craving class was predictive of time to relapse to any drinking in the 6 months following residential treatment. Results suggest that non-cue induced alcohol craving may define a subtype of alcohol dependence that is less responsive to treatment and may explain heterogeneity in treatment outcome.
See:
Oslin, D. W., Slaymaker, V., Colleran, C. & Blow, F. C. (2009). Daily ratings of alcohol craving during an inpatient stay define subtypes of alcohol addiction that predict subsequent risk for resumption of drinking. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 103, 131-136.
