The role of emotional schemas in substance abuse craving

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. 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. 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. The identification of emotional schemas involved in craving can provide constructive implications for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of substance abuse.