http://informahealthcare.com/ada ISSN: 0095-2990 (print), 1097-9891 (electronic) Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse, 2015; 41(1): 82–87 ! 2015 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. DOI: 10.3109/00952990.2014.984069 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Validation of the French Version of the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) Generates a Two-Factor Model Emeline Chauchard, PhD 1 , Nelly Goutaudier, PhD 1 , Stephen J. Heishman, PhD 2 , David A. Gorelick, MD, PhD 3 , and Henri Chabrol, MD, PhD 1 1 Octogone-CERPP (Centre d’e ´tude et de recherche en psychopathologie), Universite ´ de Toulouse – Le Mirail, France, 2 Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, USA, and 3 Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Abstract Background: Craving is a major issue in drug addiction, and a target for drug treatment. The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire-Short Form (MCQ-SF) is a useful tool for assessing cannabis craving in clinical and research settings. Objective: To validate the French version of the MCQ-SF (FMCQ-SF). Methods: Young adult cannabis users not seeking treatment (n ¼ 679) completed the FMCQ-SF and questionnaires assessing their frequency of cannabis use and craving, cannabis use disorder criteria, and alcohol use. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the four- factor FMCQ-SF model did not fit the data well. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a two- factor solution (‘‘pleasure’’, characterized by planning and expectation of positive effects, and ‘‘release of tension’’, characterized by relief from anxiety, nervousness, or tension) with good psychometric properties. This two-factor model showed good internal and convergent validity and correlated with cannabis abuse and dependence and with frequency of cannabis use and craving. Conclusion: Validation of the FMCQ-SF generated a two-factor model, different from the four-factor solution generated in English language studies. Considering that craving plays an important role in withdrawal and relapse, this questionnaire should be useful for French- language addiction professionals. Keywords Cannabis, craving, psychometric properties, rating scale History Received 17 July 2014 Revised 21 October 2014 Accepted 31 October 2014 Published online 8 December 2014 Introduction Craving is described as a strong urge, an intense desire or a compulsion; subsequently, its meaning was extended to include ‘‘users’ tendencies to use an addictive substance’’ (1,2). Cannabis craving has been conceptualized as (i) a strong and subjective desire to use cannabis, an irresistible urge or an obsessive thoughts or non-automatic cognitive processes, (ii) an anticipation of positive effects from cannabis use, or the need to re-experience drug effects, (iii) an anticipation of relief from unpleasant withdrawal symp- toms or negative mood, (iv) intention and planning to use cannabis, and (v) lack of control over cannabis use (1,3–9). Craving is common to all addiction, and was included in the DSM-5 as a criterion for substance use disorders (10). Cannabis craving has been described in individuals seeking treatment for cannabis use disorders, in non-treatment seeking adults, and also in laboratory studies with frequent users of cannabis. In one outpatient study, 93% of 54 adults seeking treatment for moderate-severe cannabis use disorder reported experiencing moderate craving, and 44% reported intense craving (11). In adolescents and young adults, either with comorbid cannabis use and depressive symptoms (12) or inpatients in treatment for moderate-severe cannabis use disorder (13), craving is one of the most frequent and intense cannabis withdrawal symptoms. Retrospective studies among non-treatment-seeking adult cannabis users indicated that more than half of participants reported craving as an important withdrawal symptom and a major factor in the inability to sustain abstinence (14–16). Human laboratory studies usually, but not always, find that cannabis deprivation (17–19) or cannabis-associated imagery are associated with increased cannabis craving (18,20–22). Psychological stress, such as from a public speaking task, and social anxiety, may also increase cannabis craving (23,24). Thus, several types of evidence suggest that craving is an important part of the addiction process that is relevant to cannabis use, withdrawal, relapse, and treatment outcome. Given the important role of craving, a practical instrument to assess cannabis craving would be useful in both clinical and research settings. The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ), based on the model of the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (25) and the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (26), is the only Address correspondence to Emeline Chauchard, PhD, Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire, Universite ´ de Nantes, Faculte ´ de Psychologie Chemin de la Censive-du-Tertre BP 81227, 44312 Nantes Cedex 3, France. Tel: +33 240 141179. E-mail: emeline.chauchard@ univ-nantes.fr Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by 82.247.141.108 on 12/10/14 For personal use only.