Gender differences in cocaine craving among non-treatment-seeking individuals with cocaine dependence

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate potential gender difference s in cocaine craving among non-treatment seekers with cocaine dependence. W e examined 10 female and Il male individuals matched by demographic charact eristics and severity of drug use; we used a multidimensional questionnaire that assesses various aspects of craving: (a) current intensity, (b) proje cted intensity, (c) resistance to use cocaine, (d) responsiveness to drug-r elated conditioned stimuli, and (e) imagined likelihood of use if in a sett ing with access to drugs. Other instruments utilized were the Hamilton Rati ng Scale for Depression and Addiction Severity Index. Female subjects had h ight I total craving scores (p < .05), with post hoc tests showing more pre sent desire to use cocaine and responsivity to drug-conditioned stimuli, al ong with lower scores on the desire not to use cocaine. In exploratory anal yses, we found greater depressive symptomatology (p = .02) and severity of family/social problems (p = .02) in ti males than their males counterparts. These results suggest that gender may influence different aspects of cocai ne craving. As estrogen is purported to modulate craving-related dopaminerg ic systems, further studies will be needed to confirm these observed gender differences and to investigate their possible mechanisms, particularly est rogen-dopamine interactions and their effect on craving and mood.