title: Validation of the French version of the marijuana craving questionnaire (MCQ) generates a two-factor model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Craving is a major issue in drug addiction, and a target for drug treatment. The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form (MCQ-SF) is a useful tool for assessing cannabis craving in clinical and research settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To validate the French version of the MCQ-SF (FMCQ-SF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adult cannabis users not seeking treatment (n = 679) completed the FMCQ-SF and questionnaires assessing their frequency of cannabis use and craving, cannabis use disorder criteria, and alcohol use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Confirmatory factor analysis of the four-factor FMCQ-SF model did not fit the data well. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a two-factor solution ("pleasure", characterized by planning and expectation of positive effects, and "release of tension", characterized by relief from anxiety, nervousness, or tension) with good psychometric properties. This two-factor model showed good internal and convergent validity and correlated with cannabis abuse and dependence and with frequency of cannabis use and craving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Validation of the FMCQ-SF generated a two-factor model, different from the four-factor solution generated in English language studies. Considering that craving plays an important role in withdrawal and relapse, this questionnaire should be useful for French-language addiction professionals.
authors.affiliation: Octogone-CERPP (Centre d'étude et de recherche en psychopathologie), Université de Toulouse - Le Mirail , France .
authors.forename: Emeline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chauchard
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goutaudier
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heishman
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gorelick
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chabrol
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cannabis; craving; psychometric properties; rating scale