The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
ARTICLESNo Access

Craving for Alcohol in Sober Alcoholics

The craving for alcohol experienced by 46 abstinent alcoholics was investigated with a structured interview, a personality inventory (the neuroticism Scale Questionnaire), and a mood state adjective checklist (Profile of Mood States). It was found that craving is a continuum, not an all-or-none phenomenon. The intensity of craving was positively correlated with the trait anxiety of the subject and inversely correlated with the duration of abstinence from alcohol. A large proportion of the craving was precipitated by environmental factors and relieved by psychological methods. A variety of mood changes accompanied craving. Only one mood state, angerhostility, significantly differentiated subjects who experienced mild craving from those reporting severe craving.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.