PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate food carving among hemodialysis patients and to identify factors affecting the food carving. METHODS: hemodialysis between March 15 and April 15, 2017. Measurement instruments included the general food craving questionnaire trait, the center for epidemiological studiesdepression scale, and stress response inventory-modified form. The statistical analysis included t-test, analysis of variance, pearson correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean food craving score was 53.00±12.36. Food craving was higher in patients younger than 40 years (F=4.36 p=.006) and having occupation (t=2.18 p=.031). Patients receiving hemodialysis demonstrated higher levels of depression (21.37±9.62) and stress (39.68±15.95). Factors influencing food craving were depression (β=.52, p<.001), stress (β=.65, p<.001), and age 50~59 years old (β=−.28, p=.001) and 60~69 years old (β=−.19, p=.026), which accounted for 25.6% of total variance. CONCLUSION: Food craving among hemodialysis patients was influenced by patients' depression, stress and age. Assessment and management of depression and stress needs to be incorporated as a nursing strategy for dietary management for hemodialysis patients.
Craving ; Depression ; Humans ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Renal Dialysis ; Stress, Psychological

Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy and a major component of the structure of living things-; there are many different kinds. As eating behavior is a part of life, it was usually not described in addiction. However, sometimes it seems aspects of addiction. This eating behavior can also appear with regard to other food. A bio-psycho-social model is required for complex analysis of addiction. When highly addictive agents are excluded, we can usually identify a key factor related to the vulnerability of the individual to addictive behavior. Considering that every source of happiness can potentially lead to addictive behaviors, we need to be cautious about the controlling. Not every carbohydrate can be connected with addictive behavior. Addictive behavior could be associated with a variety of ingredients other than carbohydrates. Until recently, sweet substances were thought to be the primary culprit behind addictive behavior. It is necessary to identify the food component or other factors associated with a specific craving. A multidimensional approach to the psychology of addictive behaviors might be more useful than opposing carbohydrate consumption in general.
Behavior, Addictive ; Carbohydrates ; Craving ; Feeding Behavior ; Happiness ; Psychology ; Sweetening Agents

OBJECTIVE: The General-Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (G-FCQ-T) is a validated, assessment scale for food craving. The aim of this study was to measure its reliability and validity for Korean children. METHODS: A total of 172 children (94 boys and 78 girls) were selected to fill out a set of questionnaires, including the G-FCQ-T, the Children's version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ-C), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) in the Korean language. RESULTS: The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.933) and test-retest reliability (r=0.653) were satisfactory. The G-FCQ-T showed a significantly positive correlation with the DEBQ-C (r=0.560) and the TFEQ (r=0.397). The optimum cutoff score of the G-FCQ-T set by Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis was 51, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.833 and 0.825, respectively, for children. CONCLUSION: The G-FCQ-T showed good reliability and validity for assessing food craving for children and could become a practial instrument in clinical and research settings.
Child* ; Craving* ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We aimed at assessing psychological variables and eating behaviors on quality of diet and life in South Korean women according to their weight status. Socio-psychology, eating behavior, quality of diet and quality of life data were assessed in 114 women (mean age: 34.5 ± 8.09 years). NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-RS) and coping styles questionnaire were used to assess socio-psychology variables, and eating behavior was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and General Food Craving Questionnaire Test (G-FCQ-T). Quality of diet was analyzed by Diet Quality Index-international (DQI-I), and obesity-related quality of life was evaluated using the Korean Obesity-related Quality of life Scale (KOQOL). Significant differences were in the psychological variables and eating behaviors in the obese group than the normal and overweight groups (p < 0.05). The overall score of DQI-I was significantly lower in the obese group than that of their counterparts (p < 0.05). BMI was positively correlated with neuroticism, emotional eating, and obesity-related quality of life, and negatively correlated with diet quality. Neuroticism was positively correlated with emotional eating and food craving. Emotional eating was positively correlated with obesity-related quality of life. In conclusion, women with a higher BMI had significantly more problematic eating behaviors, poor diet quality and quality of life.
Craving ; Diet* ; Eating* ; Feeding Behavior* ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Personality Inventory ; Quality of Life*

A 57-year-old man who was diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome showed severe impairment of cognitive function and a craving for alcohol, even after sufficient supplementation with thiamine. After completing 10 sessions of 10 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at 100% of the resting motor threshold over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dramatic improvement in cognitive function and a reduction in craving for alcohol were noted. This is the first case report of the efficacy of a high-frequency rTMS in the treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Cognition ; Craving ; Humans ; Korsakoff Syndrome* ; Middle Aged ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Thiamine ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*

Clinical studies published over the past two decades have consistently demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anti-craving medications. To use anti-craving agents more effectively in clinical settings, it is important to set clear treatment goals. Because alcoholic patients have lost control of drinking alcohol, it is recommended to set ‘abstinence’ as a goal rather than ‘controlled drinking’. Indeed, the therapeutic effects of anti-craving medication are higher when abstinence is set as the target. On the other hand, if abstinence is the sole criterion, it is difficult to elicit the motivation of a patient who lacks motivation in clinical practice. In the case of patients who have not yet gained insight, the initial goal might be set to gradually reduce the amount of alcohol consumed and prevent at-risk heavy drinking. Even in this case, anti-craving can help clinically. To increase the effectiveness of anti-craving medications, it is best to start at least four to seven days after the patient has stopped drinking. If the patient has alcohol withdrawal symptoms, they should be treated first.
Alcoholics ; Craving ; Drinking ; Hand ; Humans ; Motivation ; Naltrexone ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; Therapeutic Uses

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the smoking behavior and attitude about smoking cessation of elderly and to evaluate the effect of accessing cognitive function in order to develop the cessation program for elderly smokers. METHODS: The participants were 108 enrolled from attending the cessation program of national non-smoking guide center. We examined the Smoking Cessation Motivation Scale, The Perceived Smoking Cessation Effects Scale (PSCES), Smoking selfefficacy/temptation, The Why test and Tobacco Craving Questionnaire. Cognitive status was ascertained by interviewing with geriatric neuropsychiatrist and comprehensive neurocognitive test battery. RESULTS: The older group had lower negative effect score of PSCES (52.0±17.7, 61.3±16.6, p=0.006) and higher smoking self-efficacy score (29.4±7.2, 26.0±8.3, p=0.028) than younger group. 47.1% of older group and 12.3% of younger group were mild cognitive impairment (p<0.001). The success rate of smoking cessation after 12 weeks was 92.2% in older group and 91.2% in younger group (p=1.00). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the smoking cessation of elderly is not so challenge otherwise known as. Although the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in smokers was higher than the general population, cognitive assessment and feedback might be made of the high success rate of smoking cessation. Further attention should be paid to the elderly tailored smoking cessation program and long-term follow-up.
Aged* ; Cognition* ; Craving ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Motivation ; Prevalence ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol causes damage to the brain and is associated with various functional impairments. However, much of the brain damage can be reversed by abstaining for enough time. This study aims to investigate the patterns and degrees of brain function in abstinent patients with alcohol dependence by using resting-state functional connectivity. METHODS: 26 male patients with alcohol dependence (alcohol group) and 28 age-matched male healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited from a mental hospital and the community, respectively. Using 3T MRI scan data, the resting-state functional connectivity of the task-negative and task-positive networks was determined and compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant group differences in the resting-state functional connectivity in the default mode or in the salience and sensorimotor networks. Compared with the control group, the alcohol group showed significantly lower functional connectivity in the executive control network, especially in the cingulo-opercular network and, in some regions of interest, the dorsal attention network. CONCLUSION: This finding suggests that some brain networks do not normalize their functions after abstinence from drinking, and these results may be helpful in future research to investigate the mechanisms for craving alcohol and alcohol relapse prevention.
Alcoholism* ; Brain ; Craving ; Drinking ; Executive Function ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Secondary Prevention

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) in reducing alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent patients.

METHODSTwenty male alcohol-dependent patients were randomly assigned to two groups, a treatment group (10 cases, age 43.0±6.8 years) and a placebo group (10 cases, age 44.5±7.9 years). The treatment group was treated with real needle acupuncture on Zhubin (KI9) twice a week for 4 weeks, and the control group was treated with placebo needle acupuncture. Both groups were given acupuncture treatment using Park Sham Device (PSD). Alcohol craving was measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before treatment to establish a baseline, and after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the main and interaction effects of time and on the outcome measure (VAS).

RESULTSThere was a significant effect of time on VAS score (df=3, F=13.3, P<0.01). Main effect of group on VAS score was significant (df=1, F=10.9, P<0.01) and the time×group interaction was also significant (df=3, F=4.7, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSReal-needle acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) showed effectiveness in reducing alcohol craving. These results strongly suggest the usefulness of acupuncture therapy on Zhubin (KI9) in preventing a relapse in alcohol dependent patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Alcoholism ; therapy ; Craving ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placebos ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: Describe health beliefs of pregnant women with diabetes using tweets. Describe how information on diabetes in pregnancy is shared on Twitter.

METHODS: Tweets by women with diabetes were identified from Symplur Signals. "Status" tweets were mapped to the Health Belief Model. Tweets by women with preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes (GD) were analyzed separately. Links within tweets were surveyed for the Health on the Net (HON) Foundation seal.

RESULTS: Women with GD tweeted about cravings and the connection of high carbohydrate meals with big babies. Perceived barriers included food restriction, hunger, lab tests, clinic consults and blood glucose monitoring. Perceived benefits of blood glucose testing and a healthy diet were linked to healthy babies. Blood glucose monitoring, weight gain, and age of gestation were cues to action. Perceived barriers of women with preexisting diabetes were feelings of helplessness, loss of control, and anger. Nine domains (9.7%) had the HON Code seal. Women with preexisting diabetes shared blog posts. Women with GD shared links from organizations.

CONCLUSION: Women with GD and preexisting diabetes had differing perceptions of susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy; and shared links to information differently on Twitter.

Human ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Weight Gain ; Craving ; Blood Glucose ; Self Efficacy ; Hunger ; Cues ; Healthy Diet ; Emotions ; Anger ; Perception