Pain catastrophizing predicts alcohol craving in heavy drinkers independent of pain intensity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic pain and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are often co-occurring conditions. Pain catastrophizing, an emotional component of pain, and pain intensity are related to alcohol use as a coping mechanism; however, how pain interacts with tonic alcohol craving is an understudied area. This study sought to determine the unique and independent effects of pain intensity and pain catastrophizing on alcohol craving in heavy drinkers.

Method

Non-treatment seeking heavy drinkers (n = 128) completed self-report measures of pain (both intensity and catastrophizing), depression, alcohol use and problems, and reasons for heavy drinking. A hierarchical regression examined the unique contribution of pain intensity to alcohol craving. Depression, pain catastrophizing, and alcohol u

SUBMITTER: Nieto SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7750265 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature