The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation in the Relationship between Brain-Behavioral Systems and Impulsivity with Craving in Stimulant Addiction

Given the protecting and aggravating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in Pathology, this study examined the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between Brain-Behavioral Systems and impulsivity with craving in stimulant addiction.
In this study that was a descriptive and correlational design, 249 stimulants drug users who had been detoxified by purposeful sampling, and considering exclusion and inclusion criteria, were selected. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Behavioral Activation System (BAS) Scales (Carver & White, 1994), short form of Persian version of cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire and desire for drug questionnaire were used to collect the data. Regression and path analysis were used to analyze the data.
Findings: Sequential Regression analysis according to steps that had been suggested by Baron and Kenny (1986) reveald that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies can significantly have a mediating role between BAS and impulsivity with craving.
Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies are one of the aggravating factors in craving related problems of stimulant drug users. This research suggests that intervention and relapse prevention programs must be designate considering the craving related emotion regulation strategies.