Enver Denizhan RAMAKAN, Dogukan GUL, Abdullah KELES, Veysel GULEC
Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi - 2026;29(2):80-87
Objective: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a long-term mental health condition marked by alcohol use that is hard to regulate and accompanied by persistent cravings, both of which contribute to increased addiction severity and relapse risk. Psychological flexibility, a critical component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has been shown to help individuals tolerate cravings without resorting to substance use. Method: This study investigated the hypothesis that psychological flexibility serves as a mediator in the relationship between alcohol craving and addiction severity in individuals with AUD. The sample consisted of 86 individuals diagnosed with AUD who completed the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Substance Abuse, and the Addiction Profile Index. The potential mediating effect of psychological flexibility was analyzed using a mediation model. Results: Craving was positively correlated with addiction severity and negatively correlated with psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility significantly predicted lower addiction severity and partially mediated the relationship between craving and addiction severity, accounting for 29% of the total effect. Discussion: The findings indicate that psychological flexibility plays a mitigating role in the relationship between craving and addiction severity in AUD. The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions, particularly ACT-based treatments, may be enhanced by targeting psychological flexibility. Further longitudinal and multicenter studies are warranted to confirm these mechanisms and inform clinical practice.
