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. 2015 Mar 1:148:1-20.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.12.024. Epub 2015 Jan 3.

Ecological momentary assessment in the investigation of craving and substance use in daily life: a systematic review

Fuschia Serre  1 , Melina Fatseas  2 , Joel Swendsen  3 , Marc Auriacombe  4
Affiliations

Ecological momentary assessment in the investigation of craving and substance use in daily life: a systematic review

Fuschia Serre et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Erratum in

  • Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015 Sep 1;154:305-14

Abstract

Background: Craving is viewed as a major determinant of relapse in persons with substance addiction, but this association remains poorly understood due to its time-limited nature and the biases associated with retrospective reporting. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) offers new opportunities to examine both craving and substance use with strong ecological validity by collecting real-time data in daily life. This review examined all published studies using EMA to: (1) assess the link between craving and substance use; and (2) identify relevant moderators of craving among substance users.

Methods: We searched PubMed and PsycInfo databases up to October 31, 2013.

Results: Ninety-one studies were selected, involving mostly tobacco smokers (73%). A majority of studies (92%) reported a positive relationship between craving and substance use, concurrently and prospectively, and among users with different levels of use for both legal and illegal substances. Results suggest that craving is a stronger predictor of relapse episodes when assessed in close temporal proximity to substance use. EMA data also confirmed the influence of diverse within-person and between-person sources of variation in daily life craving reports.

Conclusions: This review provides strong support for the link between craving and substance use, and underscores the importance of the timing of assessments.

Keywords: Craving; Ecological momentary assessment; Experience sampling methodology; Relapse; Systematic review.

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