Associations of benzodiazepine craving with other clinical variables in a population of general practice patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to (1) describe the characteristics of patients reporting craving for benzodiazepines (BZs) and (2) to search for associations between BZ craving and other clinical variables in a population of general practice (GP) patients who have made an attempt to discontinue their long-term BZ use.


METHODS
The Benzodiazepine Craving Questionnaire (BCQ) and other self-report questionnaires were administered once to a population of 113 long-term and 80 former long-term GP BZ users participating in a large BZ reduction trial in GP. Cross-sectional data were gathered on self-reported BZ craving (BCQ), self-reported BZ dependence severity (Bendep-SRQ), psychopathology (General Health Questionnaire 12-item version), mood state (Profile of Mood States), personality (Dutch shortened MMPI), and lifestyle characteristics. Differences between patients who reported craving and patients who did not were analyzed univariately. Multivariate analyses were performed on variables significantly associated with craving, controlling for current use status.


RESULTS
(1) Patients reporting craving differed significantly from patients not reporting craving on aspects of BZ dependence severity, psychopathology, negative mood state, and personality. (2) Negative mood and somatization were positively associated with BZ craving, although only the contribution of negative mood to craving was statistically significant for the total group of (former) BZ users (P = .002).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported negative mood and somatization are positively associated with BZ craving. In future BZ craving research, personality factors should be further explored.
Mol
Audrey J J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. amol@rijngeestgroep.nl
Gorgels
Wim J M J
WJ
Oude Voshaar
Richard C
RC
Breteler
Marinus H M
MH
van Balkom
Anton J L M
AJ
van de Lisdonk
Eloy H
EH
Kan
Cornelius C
CC
Zitman
Frans G
FG
D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001569:Benzodiazepines