title: Nicotine dependence syndrome scale and craving: comparing nicotine-dependent individuals with and without comorbid alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although several studies have explored craving for certain drugs, there is limited data describing the relationship between alcohol and nicotine craving from a multidimensional perspective among individuals with comorbid nicotine dependence (ND) and alcohol dependence (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared a group of male patients diagnosed with ND and AD (n = 160) to a group of male patients diagnosed with ND only (n = 235). Smoking- and drinking-related clinical features were measured, including craving levels and the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS), which is a multidimensional questionnaire measuring ND. Subsequently, we studied factors that influenced smoking and alcohol craving in the ND and AD group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the NDSS, the sum, priority and tolerance scores were significantly higher in the ND and AD group compared with the ND only group (P < 0.000, P < 0.000 and P = 0.001, respectively). In the comorbid group, regression analyses revealed that alcohol craving and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores contributed to nicotine craving (beta coefficient = 0.37, P = 0.005 and beta coefficient = 0.35, P = 0.026, respectively) and these two factors explained 36% of the variance). Nicotine craving appeared to be the only factor that contributed to alcohol craving (beta coefficient = 0.35, P = 0.002), and nicotine craving explained 16% of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study may help clarify the clinical relationship between comorbid alcohol and nicotine dependence and help guide the development of effective treatment strategies for ND and AD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Addiction Rehabilitation and Social Welfare, Eulji University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sam-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Younghoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Bhang
authors.forename: Yong Lee
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Wang-Youn
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Jin Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dai-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D066249:Craving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale; alcohol; comorbidity; craving; nicotine