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This study was conducted in the purpose of investigating the effect of Tai Chi on drug craving for women with drug disorders. One hundred and twelve women were recruited from a drug rehabilitation center in China, and 47 and 48 were finally analyzed in the control group and exercise group, respectively. The exercise group underwent a 3-month Tai Chi training, whereas the control group experienced no exercise intervention during the same time period. The drug craving was measured by the visual analog scale. In data analysis, repeated-measures were utilized to test the differences between the control and exercise group over the course of the experiment time. The mean of the craving score significantly dropped from pre-test (control: mean = 5.38, SD = 3.04; exercise: mean = 4.68, SD = 2.93) to post-test (control: mean = 4.03, SD = 2.73; exercise: mean = 1.91, SD = 1.90) in both groups (control group: t = 3.84, df = 46, p < 0.001; exercise group: t = 5.941, df = 47, p < 0.001), with more decrease witnessed in the exercise group. Repeated-measures analysis with a Huynh–Feldt correction showed the significant effect of time (F = 27.383, p < 0.001) as well as the study group by time interaction (F = 3.52, p = 0.024). Tai Chi can ameliorate the drug craving in women and it could be a supportive treatment for drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an association between drug use and psychological disorders. The correlation between drug craving and psychological symptoms has been studied during drug use and acute withdrawal. However, this correlation has not been researched during non-acute withdrawal. This study recruited 175 females who had long-term drug use history and their abstinent time was at least 30 days. Psychiatric symptoms were tested by Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Visual Analog Scale was utilized to present subjects' craving intensity. The craving intensity was positively associated with SCL-90 total score and its ten subscales, p < 0.01. SCL-90 total score, somatization, obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, psychotic symptoms, and additional items were negatively linked to abstinent time, p < 0.05. Moreover, with the increasing abstinent time, the correlation between craving severity and SCL-90 and its subscales was weakening. The craving was positively associated with psychiatric symptoms in non-acute withdrawal women. This association might weaken and the severity of some psychiatric symptoms may ameliorate over time. Women who have drug use disorders would benefit from psychiatric treatment to reduce drug craving and to subsequently decrease relapse rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]