Validation of the French version of the marijuana craving questionnaire (MCQ) generates a two-factor model.

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 = 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.