Many modern theories of drug use and dependence assign central prominence to the role of craving in drug use and relapse. However, some continue to debate whether drug craving has any motivational significance in terms of drug-using behaviors. Cognitive social learning theory adds additional perspective by imbedding craving within a network of cognitive processes that, as they inter-relate, inf...

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to modulate subjective craving ratings in drug dependents by modification of cortical excitability in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Given the mechanism of craving in methamphetamine (meth) users, we aimed to test whether tDCS of DLPFC could also alter self-reported craving in abstinent meth users while being exposed to meth...

AIMS The impact of emotional states on alcohol craving has so far mainly been investigated in abstinent and actively consuming alcohol addicts. Alcohol craving and the variables that influence alcohol craving have not yet been examined in non-addicted, alcohol abusing drinkers and non-abusing occasional alcohol drinkers. METHODS In this study 50 problem drinkers and 50 occasional alcohol drin...

Craving is an important component of nicotine addiction, and extant research has demonstrated a clear link between cue-induced craving and negative affect, with mixed results in the positive affect domain. The current study was designed to test the idea that cue-reactive craving might be associated with a mixed emotional process, or the simultaneous experience of positive and negative affect. P...

Craving is a major motivator underlying drug use and relapse but the neural correlates of cannabis craving are not well understood. This study sought to determine whether visual cannabis cues increase cannabis craving and whether cue-induced craving is associated with regional brain activation in cannabis-dependent individuals. Cannabis craving was assessed in 16 cannabis-dependent adult volunt...

objectives: this study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on craving, symptoms of depression and anxiety among the patients under mmt. methods: in this experimental study, 36 opiate addicts under mmt were selected out of all the patients referring to iranian national center of addiction studies on a judgmental sampling method and were randomly allocated ...

AIMS: This study lays the foundation for a clinical prediction model based on methamphetamine craving intensity and its ability to predict the presence or absence of within-treatment methamphetamine use. DESIGN: We used a random effects logistic approach for estimating repeated-measures, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) using craving as the sole predictor of methamphetamine. A multivaria...

* Corresponding Author: Zahra Alam Mehrjerdi, MA., Neurocognitive laboratory of Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Address: No.669, South Karegar Ave, Tehran, 1336616357, Iran, Tel/Fax +982155421177. Email: [email protected] Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug with crucial impacts on individuals on variou...

Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug with crucial impacts on individuals on various levels. Exposure to methamphetamine-associated cues in laboratory can elicit measureable craving and autonomic reactivity in most individuals with methamphetamine dependence and the cue reactivity can model how craving would result in continued drug seeking behaviors and relapse in rea...

modulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activity using non-invasive brain stimulation, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), enhanced the prospects of substance use disorders rehabilitation. Methods: we carried out a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of repeated tDCS at DLPFC on drug craving in 30 abstinent male methamphetamine users. ...