[Assessment of 'craving' in alcoholic patients using a new questionnaire (Lübeck Craving-Recurrence Risk Questionnaire)]

This paper describes the development of a new instrument for measurement of craving in alcohol dependent patients. Craving is measured by self-statements. 146 alcoholics were examined. The results show that craving depends on situational factors, varying with the time of day and place. The severity of craving 30 days before inpatient treatment is shown. Four empirically substantiated subscales of psychological craving are presented. In the discussion the quality of the new questionnaire is assessed and connections to research on relapse are established. Finally, the importance of coping with craving in the prevention of relapse is pointed out.