Conceptualizing craving : extrapolations from consciousness studies

The key definitional elements of the concept of craving remain highly contentious amongst addiction researchers. We argue that attempts to operationalize the craving construct may benefit from the conceptual and methodological advances that have occurred in the field of consciousness studies. Specifically, it is contended that the concept of craving cannot be fully articulated in the absence of a consideration of Husserl's notion of the intentional structure of human consciousness and related concepts such as phenomenology, discrete states of consciousness and altered states of consciousness. Extrapolating from the consciousness studies literature, we formulate numerous suggestions for future research intended to facilitate the operationalization of craving experiences.