Subjective and behavioural evaluation of cigarette cravings.
Cigarette cravings were evaluated in a sample of moderately heavy smokers, using the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (QSU: Tiffany and Drobes 1991), which produces scores on two factors, related to the positive (factor I) and negative (factor II)-reinforcing properties of smoking, respectively. Smoking motivation was also assessed behaviourally using a progressive-ratio operant procedure, in which responding on a computer keyboard was reinforced by puffs on a cigarette, under a progressively increasing work requirement. Abstinence (4-14 h) increased scores on both subjective and behavioural measures. In non-deprived subjects, behavioural measures and cigarette liking correlated more strongly with factor I of the QSU than with factor II, while in abstinent subjects, correlations with factor II were stronger than with factor I. The significant relationships between the QSU and cigarette-reinforced progressive-ratio operant performance support the validity of both of these procedures as measures of cigarette craving.
Willner
P
P
Department of Psychology, University of Wales, Swansea, UK.
Hardman
S
S
Eaton
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires