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N icotine D ependence S yndrome S cale and craving: Comparing nicotine‐dependent individuals with and without comorbid alcohol dependence
Author(s) -
Choi SamWook,
Chon Younghoon,
Bhang Sooyoung,
Jang Yong Lee,
Won WangYoun,
Choi Jin Tae,
Kim DaiJin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12008
Subject(s) - craving , nicotine dependence , nicotine , alcohol dependence , smoking cessation , alcohol use disorder , psychology , alcohol , clinical psychology , nicotine withdrawal , psychiatry , medicine , addiction , chemistry , biochemistry , pathology
Although several studies have explored craving for certain drugs, there is limited data describing the relationship between alcohol and nicotine craving from a multidimensional perspective among individuals with comorbid nicotine dependence ( ND ) and alcohol dependence ( AD ). Methods We compared a group of male patients diagnosed with ND and AD ( n = 160) to a group of male patients diagnosed with ND only ( n = 235). Smoking‐ and drinking‐related clinical features were measured, including craving levels and the N icotine D ependence S yndrome S cale ( NDSS ), which is a multidimensional questionnaire measuring ND . Subsequently, we studied factors that influenced smoking and alcohol craving in the ND and AD group. Results Regarding the NDSS , the sum, priority and tolerance scores were significantly higher in the ND and AD group compared with the ND only group ( P < 0.000, P < 0.000 and P = 0.001, respectively). In the comorbid group, regression analyses revealed that alcohol craving and F agerstrom T est for N icotine D ependence ( FTND ) scores contributed to nicotine craving (beta coefficient = 0.37, P = 0.005 and beta coefficient = 0.35, P = 0.026, respectively) and these two factors explained 36% of the variance). Nicotine craving appeared to be the only factor that contributed to alcohol craving (beta coefficient = 0.35, P = 0.002), and nicotine craving explained 16% of the variance. Discussion This study may help clarify the clinical relationship between comorbid alcohol and nicotine dependence and help guide the development of effective treatment strategies for ND and AD patients.