Gender differences in cocaine craving among non-treatment-seeking individuals with cocaine dependence.
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate potential gender differences in cocaine craving among non-treatment seekers with cocaine dependence. We examined 10 female and 11 male individuals matched by demographic characteristics and severity of drug use; we used a multidimensional questionnaire that assesses various aspects of craving: (a) current intensity, (b) projected intensity, (c) resistance to use cocaine, (d) responsiveness to drug-related conditioned stimuli, and (e) imagined likelihood of use if in a setting with access to drugs. Other instruments utilized were the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Addiction Severity Index. Female subjects had higher total craving scores (p < .05), with post hoc tests showing more present desire to use cocaine and responsivity to drug-conditioned stimuli, along with lower scores on the desire not to use cocaine. In exploratory analyses, we found greater depressive symptomatology (p = .02) and severity of family/social problems (p = .02) in females than their males counterparts. These results suggest that gender may influence different aspects of cocaine craving. As estrogen is purported to modulate craving-related dopaminergic systems, further studies will be needed to confirm these observed gender differences and to investigate their possible mechanisms, particularly estrogen-dopamine interactions and their effect on craving and mood.
Elman
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Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA. Elman.Igor@mgh.harvard.edu
Karlsgodt
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Gastfriend
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D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004967:Estrogens; D004298:Dopamine