TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations of benzodiazepine craving with other clinical variables in a population of general practice patients
AU - Mol, Audrey J.J.
AU - Gorgels, Wim J.M.J.
AU - Oude Voshaar, Richard C.
AU - Breteler, Marinus H.M.
AU - Van Balkom, Anton J.L.M.
AU - Van De Lisdonk, Eloy H.
AU - Kan, Cornelius C.
AU - Zitman, Frans G.
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to (1) describe the characteristics of patients reporting craving for benzodiazepines (BZs) and (2) to search for associations between BZ craving and other clinical variables in a population of general practice (GP) patients who have made an attempt to discontinue their long-term BZ use.Methods: The Benzodiazepine Craving Questionnaire (BCQ) and other self-report questionnaires were administered once to a population of 113 long-term and 80 former long-term GP BZ users participating in a large BZ reduction trial in GP. Cross-sectional data were gathered on self-reported BZ craving (BCQ), self-reported BZ dependence severity (Bendep-SRQ), psychopathology (General Health Questionnaire 12-item version), mood state (Profile of Mood States), personality (Dutch shortened MMPI), and lifestyle characteristics. Differences between patients who reported craving and patients who did not were analyzed univariately. Multivariate analyses were performed on variables significantly associated with craving, controlling for current use status.Results: (1) Patients reporting craving differed significantly from patients not reporting craving on aspects of BZ dependence severity, psychopathology, negative mood state, and personality. (2) Negative mood and somatization were positively associated with BZ craving, although only the contribution of negative mood to craving was statistically significant for the total group of (former) BZ users (P = .002).Conclusions: Self-reported negative mood and somatization are positively associated with BZ craving. In future BZ craving research, personality factors should be further explored.
AB - Background: The aim of this study was to (1) describe the characteristics of patients reporting craving for benzodiazepines (BZs) and (2) to search for associations between BZ craving and other clinical variables in a population of general practice (GP) patients who have made an attempt to discontinue their long-term BZ use.Methods: The Benzodiazepine Craving Questionnaire (BCQ) and other self-report questionnaires were administered once to a population of 113 long-term and 80 former long-term GP BZ users participating in a large BZ reduction trial in GP. Cross-sectional data were gathered on self-reported BZ craving (BCQ), self-reported BZ dependence severity (Bendep-SRQ), psychopathology (General Health Questionnaire 12-item version), mood state (Profile of Mood States), personality (Dutch shortened MMPI), and lifestyle characteristics. Differences between patients who reported craving and patients who did not were analyzed univariately. Multivariate analyses were performed on variables significantly associated with craving, controlling for current use status.Results: (1) Patients reporting craving differed significantly from patients not reporting craving on aspects of BZ dependence severity, psychopathology, negative mood state, and personality. (2) Negative mood and somatization were positively associated with BZ craving, although only the contribution of negative mood to craving was statistically significant for the total group of (former) BZ users (P = .002).Conclusions: Self-reported negative mood and somatization are positively associated with BZ craving. In future BZ craving research, personality factors should be further explored.
U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.01.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 16122535
AN - SCOPUS:23944505502
SN - 0010-440X
VL - 46
SP - 353
EP - 360
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
IS - 5
ER -