The subjective experience of craving: An exploratory analysis

Craving is a motivational state associated with a variety of addictive beha viors. To date no studies have systematically asked substance misusers to d escribe their subjective experience of craving. The aim of the present stud y was to examine the common themes found in descriptions of craving and the situations that give rise to the experience of craving in a sample of subs tance misusers (N = 23). Analyses of the interview text revealed that the s ubjective experience of craving is heterogeneous. Eight dimensions were fou nd to be associated with the subjective experience of craving: specificity, strength, positive outcomes, behavioral intention, thoughts, physical symp toms, affect, and cues. Individual differences in the extent to which each of these dimensions is experienced across substance misusers was evident in the interview text. Implications of these results for the development of a multivariate theory of craving are discussed.