[Development and validation of an overall instrument to measure craving across multiple substances: the Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS)].

OBJECTIVE: Based on the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) we developed and validated the Mannheimer Craving Scale (MaCS) for quantitative measurements of craving across different substances and suitable for multiple substance abuse.

METHODS: The MaCS questionnaire measures obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the context of substance abuse and dependence similar to the OCDS. The MaCS consists of 12 items and 4 additional items. Validation of the instrument was performed by means of 3 assessments of each subject within a project for the evaluation of a detox treatment on n = 292 alcohol and drug-dependent patients with multiple substance abuse.

RESULTS: The MaCS showed a very high measurement reliability (0.87 < alpha < 0.93). The MaCS total score correlated highly significant with the mean intensity of craving (0.47 < r (tc ) < 0.64, p < 0.0001), with the maximum of craving (0.52 < r (tc) < 0.69, p < 0.0001), and with the frequency of craving (0.43 < r (tc) < 0.65, p < 0.0001) measured by means of analogue scales.

CONCLUSIONS: The MaCS for overall measurements of craving across multiple substances showed very good reliability and validity. In combination with a simple and universal feasibility of the MaCS these results indicate the applicability in everyday clinical settings as well as scientific settings.