The role of emotional schemas in substance abuse craving

Abstract

Introduction: Substance abuse is a chronic recurring disorder and one of its features that boldly appears is craving. Research findings show that emotional factors have a central role in substance abuse craving. The purpose of current study was to assess the role of emotional schemas in substance abuse craving.Method: According to diagnostic and inclusion criteria, 300 addicts (165 men and 135 women ( were selected. Next, they completed questionnaires of demographic characteristics, emotional schemas, and substance abuse craving. The data gathered were analyzed using methods of Pearson's correlation and stepwise multivariate regression.Results: Rumination, guilt, uncontrollability and blame were among the emotional schemas which were positively correlated with craving. On the other side, emotional self-awareness, validation by others, comprehensibility, higher values, acceptance of emotions and consensus were in a negative correlation with craving. The results of stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that higher values, guilt, acceptance of emotions, demand for rationality and emotional self-awareness could explain 31% of craving variance.Conclusion: The identification of emotional schemas involved in craving can provide constructive implications for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of substance abuse.