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No / We previously reported that music-assisted systematic desensitization can counter-condition substance-related cues and reduce the implicated craving responses, as well as improve cognitive and psychopathological components of substance addiction. This follow-up study investigated the therapeutic contribution of listening to recorded New Age relaxing music in counterconditioning external substance-conditioned cues, as well as in the amelioration of everyday life craving reactivity, craving beliefs and depression. Twenty-one substance addicted individuals participated in a three-week randomized controlled trial consisting of two therapeutic sessions per week. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two study groups, systematic desensitization combined with listening to New Age relaxing music recorded in individual MP3 devices, and systematic desensitization without music. Measurements of craving in response to external substance-conditioned cues, craving beliefs, everyday craving reactivity and depression took place at baseline, post-treatment and one month after the end of treatment. No significant group differences in the outcome measures were observed between both arms of the study but within group and time results suggest that listening to New Age relaxing music significantly enhances systematic desensitization and accounts for significant reductions of craving responses to external substance-conditioned cues and of craving beliefs associated with compulsive behaviour in the music group. Our study provides the first evidence on the potential therapeutic contribution of music to cue counterconditioning in substance addiction treatment. Further investigation on the capacity of music to increase the effectiveness of systematic desensitization seems warranted.

Background: Within one year after the end of treatment the relapse occur in 20-80% of clients. In case of methamphetamine results indicate that after six months appear relapse in 36% of clients and from 7 to 19 months after cessation of treatment relapse occur in rest of 15% of them. These situations include the occurrence of craving by clients in therapy and after undergoing of therapy too. Craving during abstinence from 20 to 120 weeks indicate 60- 70% of abstinence clients. In recent years become useful method for data collection - a method of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). This method collects data from clients in real time in their natural environment via smartphones. Aim: The aim of this work is to investigate the possibilities and limits of application of the method (EMA) with the help of smartphones in terms of residential treatment for clients addicted to methamphetamine. Sample: 12 patients in mid-term hospital treatment which use smartphone with EMA application focused on craving. Methods: Semi-structured interview with patients, other patients and staff about smartphones/EMA application and how influence the treatment. Results: Most of patients, co-patients and staff didn't have problem with the presence of smartphones in the residential treatment. Functioning in the treatment...

Introduction: Souvent, les recherches sur ce sujet se réalisent dans un environnement de consommation légal. Pourtant, le cas de l'Arabie saoudite devrait donner des résultats différents. pour la théorie cognitive, la dépendance chimique consiste en une forte interaction entre les cognitions (pensée, croyance, schéma), valeur, opinion, attente, supposition, attitude, émotions, connexion familiale et sociale, impact social et procédure naturelle et physiologique. En s’intéressant à explorer ces croyances dans une société interdisant l'alcool et à présenter un protocole d'évaluation complet adapté à cette culture. Méthode: L’étude inclue 144 sujets, séparés en 3 groupes selon la dépendance et le sexe. Résultats: Les positives croyances liées à l'alcool sont plus élevées chez les alcooliques alors qu'il n'y a pas de différence liée au sexe. Une corrélation positive entre le craving et la rechute. Le niveau de trauma est plus élevé chez les alcooliques et positivement lié à la rechute. Conclusion: Les croyances liées à l’alcool comme toutes les variables precitées ont une rôle essentiel dans la compréhension et le traitement de ce problème. / Introduction: Mostly, the researches about this subject are done in legal alcohol consumption environment. Therefore the case of Saudi Arabia should give different results. Regarding cognitive theory, chemical dependence consists of a strong interaction between cognitions (thoughts, convictions, schemas), values, opinions, expectations and suppositions attitudes; emotions; familial and social connections; social impacts; and natural and physiological procedures. We are interested in exploring these beliefs in a society that forbids alcohol and presenting a complete evaluation protocol adapting to Saudi culture. Method: We studied 144 subjects, separated into 3 groups depending on addiction and gender. Results: Higher positive believes related to alcohol in alcoholics while there is no difference between men and women. A positive correlation between craving and relapse. The traumatic experiences are higher in alcoholics and positively correlated with relapse. Conclusion: The beliefs related to alcohol consumption beside all other variables that are mentioned above have a vital role in the comprehension and the treatment of this issue.

Published Article / Studies were undertaken in the Limpopo and Free State Provinces of South Africa to understand the beliefs, perceptions and health implications associated with geophagia. Questionnaires administered to 225 geophagic females covered their demographic details, their reasons for ingesting geophagic clayey soils and their perceptions regarding associated health conditions and implications. Respondents ingested clayey soils for body cleansing, craving, nutrient supplementation and weight loss. Some respondents considered the soils harmful, and < 50% of respondents had some knowledge of the contents of soils they ingested. Medical reasons in support of geophagia included lack of knowledge on the health implications of the practice. Medical consequences associated with geophagia may have occurred as a result of a lack of knowledge of the health implications of the practice. A clear need for educating geophagic individuals regarding the health implications of geophagia is called for.

Introdução: O transtorno por uso abusivo de crack é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública em todo o mundo. Sabe-se que o exercício físico está associado a uma melhora nos sintomas de ansiedade, esses sintomas também são observados em usuários com transtorno por abuso de substância, no entanto não há evidências dos efeitos do exercício físico nos sintomas ansiosos e de craving em indivíduos usuários de crack em um episódio de craving. Objetivo: Verificar se uma única sessão de exercício aeróbio moderado é uma estratégia terapêutica no manejo do craving em usuários internados para desintoxicação. Metodologia: Este é um experimento controlado, no qual foram recrutados 13 sujeitos, randomicamente alocados em um grupo que realizou uma sessão de exercício aeróbio moderado (GE=05) e um grupo controle que visualizou imagens neutras (GC=08). Durante o protocolo foram avaliadas a frequência cardíaca (FC), Escala análogo visual (EAV), Cocaine Craving Questionnaire –Brief (CCQ-B) e o Inventário Beck de Ansiedade (BAI) em 3 momentos: pré indução do craving, pós indução do craving e pós intervenção. Resultados e discussão: Foi encontrada diferença estatística na redução do escore da EAV entre os grupos após a intervenção em relação ao estado pós craving, nas demais variáveis não foram encontradas uma diferença estatística, mas pode-se observar uma tendência de maior redução em todos o escores avaliados no grupo que realizou exercício. Conclusão: Foi encontrada uma tendência de que o exercício pode auxiliar no manejo do craving e dos sintomas de ansiedade em usuários com transtorno por abuso de crack, todavia mais estudos devem ser realizados com outros tipos de exercício em diferentes intensidades e duração. / Introduction: The disorder of crack use is one of the biggest public health problems in the world. It is known that physical exercise is associated with a good mental health condition for people who have anxiety symptoms, these symptoms are also observed in drug addicted individuals, however there is no scientific evidence of the effects of physical exercise on anxious symptoms in people who use crack and are in a craving episode. Objective: To verify if a single session of moderate aerobic exercise can be consider a therapeutic strategy for handling with craving for users who are hospitalized for detoxification. Methodology: This is a controlled experiment in which 13 subjects were randomly assigned to a group that performed a moderate aerobic exercise session (GE = 05) and a control group that watched neutral images (GC = 08). During the protocol, we evaluated heart rate (HR), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Cocaine Craving Questionnaire -Brief (CCQ-B) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in 3 moments: pre-induction of craving, post-induction of craving and post-intervention. Results and discussion: A statistical difference was found in the reduction of VAS score between the groups after an intervention in relation to the post-craving stage; in the other variables, a statistical difference was not found, but a trend of greater reduction in all scores of the exercising group can be observed. Conclusion: A trend has been found that exercise may help in the handling of craving and anxiety symptoms in users with crack abuse disorder, but further studies should be done with other types of exercise at different intensities and duration.

Negative affect plays a critical role in nicotine dependence. Smokers report feeling that negative affect is a primary motivation to keep smoking. This study examined the relationship between individual differences in emotional experience, in particular emotional clarity and differentiation (individuals' ability to understand, describe, and differentiate between emotions), and smoking motivation. We hypothesized that emotional clarity would be related to affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction. A second goal was to test the ability of an emotional-labeling intervention to reduce negative affect and smoking motivation resulting from a negative emotion induction. We also tested whether emotional clarity moderated the effect of the negative affect manipulation upon smoking-related variables. We hypothesized that emotional clarity would moderate the effect of the emotional-labeling manipulation upon affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction. A correlational and two-group between-subjects design was used. Participants (170 participants; 86 males) first completed baseline measures, then received a mood induction (via video). They then were randomized to one of two conditions (emotion labeling and writing control). Results indicate that emotional clarity was related to affect, craving, and smoking satisfaction ratings, such as those higher on emotional clarity reported more positive affect, less cravings, and having experienced aversive effects after smoking. We found no effect of the emotional labeling task. Although we replicated findings from previous studies showing a relationship between emotional clarity and mood, this study is the first to establish such a relationship with craving for a cigarette and aspects of smoking satisfaction.

Understanding the etiological and maintaining processes of problematic drinking continues to be a challenge. There has been a growing amount of research focusing on the decisional processes that act to maintain addictive behaviors. Elucidating this underlying process is key to understanding the range of drinking behavior observed among individuals. Rather than relying on one theory, examining overlap between multiple theories of alcohol use may lead to a better understanding of such a process. Using a construct validation approach, this study utilized motivational (Ambivalence Model of Craving), cognitive (Alcohol Outcome Expectancy Theory), and behavioral theories (Behavioral Economics) of alcohol use to examine the extent to which they tap into a common underlying decisional process of alcohol use behaviors. Two methods were used including establishing motivational profiles using latent profile analysis and an experimental manipulation of situational context to examine the effect of setting on constructs of interest. Results from the two studies provided partial support for the overlap between these theories as it pertains to a common underlying process.

Abstract Rates of smoking are elevated in eating-disordered populations, especially among females (Pomerleau & Snedecor, 2008; Klesges & Klesges, 1988). Restrained eaters ignore physiological cues of satiation and hunger, and instead attempt to employ cognitive control over decisions to eat. Additionally, they are prone to eat in a disinhibited manner after a salient emotional or food cue interrupts their restraint. This eating style is also associated with increased rates of smoking compared with the general population. Although there is a great deal of literature on the relationship between smoking and eating, the role of eating in momentary decisions regarding smoking remains to be explored. The current study tested whether a food prime, which has been found to elicit disinhibited eating in restrained eaters, could also motivate smoking as an alternative to eating. In a randomized two-arm (Prime/No-Prime) between-subjects design, it was hypothesized that smokers, particularly those high in eating restraint, receiving a food prime would be more likely to smoke than eat when given the option, compared to smokers who did not receive the food prime. Although main effects on smoking variables were not found, restraint status did moderate the effect of the food prime upon latency to first puff, number of puffs, and cigarette craving. Moreover, the moderation effect was reversed upon eating variables, suggesting that after a food prime, weight-control smokers appear to choose to smoke to prevent further food intake. This conclusion was bolstered by the finding that the moderation effect on smoking was further moderated by expectancies regarding the effect of smoking upon appetite and weight. In summary, this study identified psychological mechanisms that appear to underlie the population-based covariance between disordered eating and smoking.

While there is evidence to support the efficacy of mindfulness-based treatment for substance use, the mechanisms through which they lead to therapeutic outcomes have received less attention. A growing body of literature suggests that the ways in which people respond to cravings may be an important mediator of change. Individuals with substance use problems may use them to cope with or avoid negative experiences, which could include the experience of craving itself. Thought suppression in particular has been investigated as a specific form of experiential avoidance, and findings suggest that thought suppression strategies may interfere with attempts to quit using substances. While mindfulness training should be expected to reduce the tendency to suppress or avoid cravings, evidence to support this expectation is limited, largely because no measures yet exist that assess the suppression of craving. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to develop a self-report measure of the suppression of craving. Existing measures of other types of thought suppression and experiential avoidance were examined to identify items that could be adapted for use in the Craving Suppression Scale (CSS). To assist with the item development process, a focus group was also conducted at a local residential treatment facility. Participants were asked to discuss what they do when they are experiencing cravings and what thoughts go through their minds when cravings come up. Their responses were used to guide content development for the CSS items. Items were developed for two sub-scales: suppression of craving and beliefs about craving. Items were administered to a sample of inpatients in substance use treatment and an online sample of individuals reporting current or previous substance use problems (total N = 208). Factor analysis of the remaining items supported a two-factor structure for the CSS as hypothesized. Relationships were examined between the CSS and other measures of other forms of experiential avoidance/suppression, craving, and emotional distress. The CSS scales correlated well with other measures of suppression but had mixed relationships with other constructs of interest. Evidence for the validity and potential utility of the CSS are discussed along with theoretical and treatment implications.