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. 2010 Jul-Aug;19(4):352-6.
doi: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2010.00057.x.

Gender differences in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cravings in alcoholism

Nelli Boykoff  1 , Terry D Schneekloth, Daniel Hall-Flavin, Larissa Loukianova, Victor M Karpyak, Susanna R Stevens, Joanna M Biernacka, David A Mrazek, Mark A Frye
Affiliations

Gender differences in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cravings in alcoholism

Nelli Boykoff et al. Am J Addict. 2010 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

This study examines the clinical correlates of alcohol craving in men and women self-referred for addiction treatment. Admission clinical data from patients participating in the Mayo Clinic 1-month Intensive Addictions Program were evaluated. Women had higher BDI and PACS scores compared with men in both the entire cohort and Dual Diagnoses group. Alcohol-dependent females had the most marked correlation between BDI and PACS (rho= .78). Further prospective study is encouraged to evaluate whether depressive symptoms and concomitant alcohol cravings in women are a marker for relief cravings and, as such, a target symptom for treatment intervention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interests:

Ms. Boykoff, Ms. Stevens, and Drs. Schneekloth, Hall-Flavin, Loukianova, Karpyak, and Biernacka have nothing to disclose. AssureRx is a clinical decision support company that has licensed intellectual property that is owned by the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Mrazek has an interest in this intellectual property. Dr. Frye has received grant support from Pfizer, National Alliance for Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Mayo Foundation, is a consultant to Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cephalon, Dainippon Sumittomo Pharma, Medtronic, Ortho McNeil/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Schering Plough, Sepracor, Pfizer, and has participated in CME supported activity from Astra-Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Co., GlaxoSmithKline, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Schering-Plough. He is not on any speakers’ bureau nor does he have any financial interest/stock ownership/royalties.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Admission depression and craving ratings BDI = Beck Depression Inventory-II, PACS = Penn Alcohol Craving Scale
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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