Research & Resources

Understanding how alcohol demand, depression, and cravings affect chances of relapse

Researchers wanted to understand how alcohol demand (one’s valuation of alcohol), depression, and cravings affect the chances of relapse after alcohol use disorder treatment. They followed 71 women with depressive symptoms who were seeking treatment over time, and measured alcohol demand by asking them how much they spent on alcohol and how much they would drink when it was free. Researchers also asked about their cravings and depressive symptoms. They found that women with higher alcohol demand drank more when they did drink, and depression or craving did not affect levels of drinking. The paper, “Evaluating Alcohol Demand, Craving, and Depressive Symptoms Among Women in Alcohol Treatment,” was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It was published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
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