• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.603-611
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• 2007

Initially, this study was to develop reliable and effective alcohol-associated visual cues. Alcoholic picture cues were chosen from the Normative Appetitive Picture System (NAPS). Additional images consisted of Korean beer and mild liquor was pre-tested to select the pictures that would induce craving most intensely. The images that recorded the highest scores on a scale were chosen through the pre-test. And then, the reliability and validity were examined for the selected alcohol cues from NAPS and pre-test via another psychometric test. Secondly, the study was to investigate differences in craving between subjects with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and non-alcoholic control subjects when exposed to the alcohol visual cues. Alcohol abusers with AUD (n=9) and demographically similar non-abusers (n=9) participated in this study. After given 5cc of alcohol, subjects were exposed to different types of stimuli (i.e., alcohol, nonalcoholic beverage, and visual control pictures and one rest (cross-hair)). Craving levels were rated through self-report on a Likert scale immediately after the presentation of visual cues. Results showed statistically significant differences between the AUD group and the control group in the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) scores, pre-sip and post-sip alcohol craving. Also, the AUD group showed significantly a higher level of craving during alcohol cues compared to the control group. In conclusion, alcohol craving induced by alcohol cues among subjects with AUD was found to be different from that of non-abusers.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.63-79
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to reveal the phenomenological meaning and experience of alcohol craving experienced by alcoholics through qualitative research. Methods: From November 8, 2020 to October 10, 2022, in-depth interviews were conducted with four recovering alcoholics within two years of a single week who were diagnosed with alcoholism in the past and had been hospitalized for alcoholism problems. The data were analyzed using phenomenological qualitative research methods. Results: The alcohol craving experienced by alcoholics worked in connection with the life of alcoholics. Alcohol intensity was not entirely determined by external factors, but varied by the individual's internal state and circumstances surrounding the individual, and cravings were found to be classified into when control and intervention were possible. Also, the power to neutralize alcohol cravings was a warm 'self-compassion' mind. Conclusion: This study presented a new perspective on alcohol craving, and based on this perspective, the necessity of developing an alcohol addiction prevention program and a recurrence prevention program was presented. In addition, the basis for emphasizing the necessity of complete abstinence in health education services for preventing alcohol and preventing recurrence in the community was presented.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objective : This study was designed to test the anti-craving effect of Gigaltang(extracts of Oriental medicinal herbs ; Hovenia dulcis and Puerariae flos) in C57BL/6 mice. Anti-craving effect was substituted by alcohol intake amount of C57BL/6 mice. Method : 60 C57BL/6 mice was randomized into vehicle(water) group and Gigaltang group. Only 39(vehicle group(21) and Gigaltang group(18)) was eligible for this study, and 21 C57BL/6 mice was dropped out. The procedure was composed of 5 days of adjustment period and 32 days of alcohol exposure and withdrawal period with limited access paradigm and 10 days of treatment period. Alcohol was offered only for 2 hours a day from 2 to 4PM and water was offered for 22 hours left. Food was offered for 24 hours a day. 1140mg/Kg/day of Gigaltang was administrated to 18 mice of Gigaltang group for 10 days whereas water to 21 mice of vehicle group. The amount of alcohol intake, water intake, food intake, body weight were measured every other day. Result : There weren't significant differences in 2 hours of alcohol intake, 22 hours of water intake, 24 hours of food intake and body weight for ten days between Gigaltang and vehicle group. Conclusion : Anti-craving effect of Gigaltang on C57BL/6 mice wasn't verified. To verify the anti-craving effect, further study with advanced animal model, various dose of Gigaltang and diverse period of drug administration should be taken.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2008

Objectives : The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ) has been used in alcohol dependence treatment and research. The goal of this study is to develop of the Korean Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ-K). Methods : To examine the AUQ-K's psychometric properties, responses from 104 patients admitted in alcohol dependence treatment facility were investigated. Results : The internal consistency of the 8-item AUQ-K, measured by coefficient ${\alpha}$, was high(Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=0.78). AUQ-K scores showed significant correlation when the retest interval was 1 day(p<0.01). The AUQ-K's validity was investigated using correlational analyses with two other craving scales[the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale(OCDS) and the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)]. The high correlations were obtained between total AUQ-K scores and total OCDS scores, and between total AUQ-K scores and the VAS scores(p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion : The AUQ-K is a reliable and valid short scale for measurement of self-reported alcohol craving. This scale may offer significant advantages over existing single-item measures of alcohol craving in the fields of alcohol dependence treatment and research.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.02b
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• pp.639-645
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• 2006

During abstinence from alcohol, craving is elicited by the cues and contexts previously associated with alcohol, and contributes to relapse. To prevent the craving and relapse experienced by alcoholics, cue-exposure therapy (CET) has been used to extinguish the association between alcohol and alcohol-related cues and contexts. This study applied CET, using a virtual reality (VR) system, to eight members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group, in eight sessions. Cues and contexts most likely to elicit an urge to drink were selected through a preliminary survey in order to compose VR-CET scenarios: a glass, bottle, food, and a bar were judged to be the most tempting for people in alcohol dependence and abstinence. By these cues and contexts, a Japanese style pub and a western bar were composed. Each session was administered for 30 minutes by a psychiatrist and included an introduction, immersion, VR navigation, interviews about feelings, and self-report questionnaires about cravings. The eight sessions consisted of initial and closing sessions, and six cue- and context-focused sessions. As a result, a reduction in cue-elicited craving after VR-CET was reported. A mean score of 15.75 (SD = 10.91) on the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire in the first session decreased to 11.57 (SD = 6.88) in the final session.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.02a
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• pp.823-828
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• 2008

This study set out investigate what kind of changes would be caused to the craving of alcohol dependent patients by stimuli through virtual reality in the preparation stage for drinking refusal training. With regard to stimulation, it included alcohol exposure, a positive situation, and a negative situation on the basis of drinking encouraging situations(social pressure) known as drinking stimulating situations for alcoholics. The purpose of the study is to provide fundamental materials for the development of new training programs to refuse alcohol and for the examination of the possibility of utilizing virtual reality technology as a new treatment and training tool for alcoholics. To this end, a virtual reality program was conducted involving 12 alcoholics admitted to Severance Mental Health Hospital in Gyeonggi province from December 2006 to September 2007. The data was dealt with various statistic analyses such as frequency analysis, Wilcoxon Matched-pairs Signed-Ranks Test using SPSS/WIN 11.5 The analysis results indicate that avatars encouraging drinking caused more craving than just the background, that the scenes with alcohol exposed caused more craving than the scenes with no alcohol exposed, and that there were no significant changes to craving according to a positive or negative situation. The results confirmed that training sessions using virtual reality presented a situation and environment of drinking pressure that's similar to the actual social pressure and that the virtual reality approach had enormous potential as an effective treatment tool when combined with the existing treatment techniques.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this prospective study is to investigate predictors estimating relapse in Korean alcohol-dependent patients using variables like alcohol history, drinking craving, treatment motivation and insight. Methods : Alcohol dependent patients(N=48) who completed questionnaires about sociodemographic variables and drinking history, Timeline Follow-Back(TLFB), Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale(OCSD), Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ), Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale(PACS), University of Rhode Island Change Assessment(URICA), Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale(HAIS) were followed-up for 24weeks. Subjects who drank heavily(5 standard drinking or more/day) or were not followed up anymore were classified as the relapse group. We used logistic regression analysis with backward elimination of SPSS PC+11.5 to investigate relapse estimate predictors. Results : Average drinking amount per drinking day for last 1 year and HAIS score were predictors of relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that therapist should give more attention to alcohol-dependent patients who had more drinks per drinking day for last 1 year and had lower insight level.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.172-184
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the subjective relapse experiences of patients with alcohol use disorder in one's life context. Methods: A Q methodology was used to analyze the subjectivity of relapse experiences among 55 participants with alcohol use disorder. Fifty-five Q-statement were derived from interviews and literature review. Q-statements were classified into normally distributed shapes using a 9-point scale. Data were analyzed using the QUANL program. Results: Four types of relapse experiences were identified: failure to self-regulation drinking cravings, fear of relapse and awareness of the need for treatment, drinking as a coping mechanism and defensive coping, and lack of motivation to change drinking behavior. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that patients with alcohol use disorder need a differential approach based on four types of relapse experiences in the recovery process.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 2011

Objectives Many studies have suggested different neurobiological findings and clinical courses in alcoholism. Recently, subtyping in alcohol dependence has become essential to overcome the heterogeneity of patients. Among several criteria of subtypes, Lesch's typology is proposed to integrate biological, social, and psychological factors. This review provides neurobiological findings and treatment-responses of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. Method We searched the international published medical literature using the search terms 'Lesch's typology' and 'alcohol dependence' and using the limits 'human'. Results We identified 17 studies with subjects of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. Conclusion They indicated that each subtype of Lesch's typology can have specific neurobiological factors and different clinical responses as follows. Lesch's subtype 1 is characterized by severe withdrawal symptoms and associated with elevated glutamate and homocysteine. Lesch's subtype 2 is defined by individuals who drink alcohol as self-medication for anxiety. Their craving has significant positive correlations with prolactin, leptin level, or intake-volume (vasopressin). Lesch's subtype 4 is related to cerebral dysfunction and associated with increased glutamate and left-handedness. Clinical trials showed that naltrexone was effective in Lesch's subtype 3 and 4 patients, while acamprosate was effective in the subtypes 1 and 2.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2017

Objectives It is well known that problem drinking is associated with alterations of brain structures and functions. Brain functions related to alcohol consumption can be determined by the resting state functional connectivity in various resting state networks (RSNs). This study aims to ascertain the alcohol effect on the structures forming predetermined RSNs by assessing their cortical thickness. Methods Twenty-six abstinent male patients with alcohol dependence and the same number of age-matched healthy control were recruited from an inpatient mental hospital and community. All participants underwent a 3T MRI scan. Averaged cortical thickness of areas constituting 7 RSNs were determined by using FreeSurfer with Yeo atlas derived from cortical parcellation estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity. Results There were significant group differences of mean cortical thicknesses (Cohen's d, corrected p) in ventral attention (1.01, < 0.01), dorsal attention (0.93, 0.01), somatomotor (0.90, 0.01), and visual (0.88, 0.02) networks. We could not find significant group differences in the default mode network. There were also significant group differences of gray matter volumes corrected by head size across the all networks. However, there were no group differences of surface area in each network. Conclusions There are differences in degree and pattern of structural recovery after abstinence across areas forming RSNs. Considering the previous observation that group differences of functional connectivity were significant only in networks related to task-positive networks such as dorsal attention and cognitive control networks, we can explain recovery pattern of cognition and emotion related to the default mode network and the mechanisms for craving and relapse associated with task-positive networks.