The craving and new clinic of addiction: A simplified and operational perspective

Addiction or use disorder can be defined as a deregulated modality of use of a source of gratification that may be a substance or a behavior. The word "craving" in the addictions is used to describe an unusual desire or urge to use that may be better characterized by its unwanted quality then just by its intensity. This unwanted or pathological craving is an egodystonic experience. This is a common complaint among people with addiction. The importance of this phenomenon has only been demonstrated for a decade. It is now strongly suggested that craving is the most characteristic manifestation of addiction, since its presence and intensity predict use and relapse. As a result, "craving" could be a preferred target for addiction treatments: psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, but also therapeutic education. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.