Confusion of Alcohol Craving With Food Hunger in Alcohol-Dependent Individuals Entering In-Patient Drug Treatment.

This study investigates the characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients who confuse alcohol cravings with pre-meal hunger. Among 179 in-patient individuals undergoing treatment for alcohol dependence in Poland, about one-third reported this confusion, which was associated with stronger alcohol craving scores, more intense pre-meal hunger, and higher depressive symptoms, despite similar severity of dependence and alcohol consumption levels compared to those without confusion. Patients who confused these sensations were more likely to perceive that severe pre-meal hunger and inability to distinguish it from alcohol craving increase the risk of relapse and expressed less confidence in maintaining abstinence. The findings highlight the clinical relevance of this phenomenon for treatment and relapse prevention, suggesting a need for further research into its neurobiological, cognitive, and emotional underpinnings.