An examination of reactivity to craving assessment: craving to smoke does not change over the course of a multi-item craving questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION Self-report measures are typically used to assess drug craving, but researchers have questioned whether completing these assessments can elicit or enhance craving. Previous studies have examined cigarette craving reactivity and found null craving reactivity effects. Several methodological limitations of those studies, however, preclude definitive conclusions. The current study addresses limitations of previous studies and extends this area of research by using a large sample size to examine: (1) item-by-item changes in craving level during questionnaire completion, (2) craving reactivity as a function of craving intensity reflected in item content, (3) craving reactivity differences between nicotine dependent and nondependent smokers, and (4) potential reactivity across multiple sessions. This study also used a more comprehensive craving assessment (the 32-item Questionnaire on Smoking Urges; QSU) than employed in previous studies. METHODS Nicotine dependent and nondependent smokers (n=270; nicotine dependence determined by the Nicotine Addiction Taxon Scale) completed the QSU on six separate occasions across 12 weeks. Craving level was observed at the item level and across various subsets of items. RESULTS Analyses indicated that there was no significant effect of item/subset position on craving ratings, nor were there any significant interactions between item/subset position and session or level of nicotine dependence. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that, even with relatively sensitive procedures for detecting potential reactivity, there was no evidence that completing a craving questionnaire induces craving.