Jessica Werth Cook1, Bonnie Spring, Dennis McChargue. 1. University of Washington and Puget Sound Health Care System, Mental Health (7West), 1660 S. Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. jesswc@u.washington.edu
Abstract
RATIONALE: The possibility that individuals administer nicotine to self-regulate persistent negative affect has received interest as a possible explanation for the high prevalence of affectively vulnerable smokers. Relatively overlooked, however, is the possibility that smokers might also self-administer nicotine to elevate low positive affect. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether nicotine administration augmented anhedonic smokers' positive affective response to a positive mood induction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty regular smokers (50% female) underwent two positive mood inductions during which they smoked either a nicotinized or denicotinized cigarette in counterbalanced order. Positive affect was assessed before and at two time points after smoking. RESULTS: Random effects regression showed a significant anhedonia by condition-by-time interaction [t(181)=-2.01, p = 0.04], supporting the hypothesis that anhedonia moderated nicotine's effect on changes in positive affect. Simple effect analyses showed a significant condition-by-time interaction among high anhedonic smokers [t(91)= 2.47, p = 0.01] but not among less anhedonic smokers [t(91)= 0.34, p = 0.73]. CONCLUSION: Smoking nicotine vs placebo heightened anhedonic smokers' ability to be induced into a positive mood, whereas nicotine had no effect on more hedonic smokers' positive mood.
RATIONALE: The possibility that individuals administer nicotine to self-regulate persistent negative affect has received interest as a possible explanation for the high prevalence of affectively vulnerable smokers. Relatively overlooked, however, is the possibility that smokers might also self-administer nicotine to elevate low positive affect. OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether nicotine administration augmented anhedonic smokers' positive affective response to a positive mood induction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty regular smokers (50% female) underwent two positive mood inductions during which they smoked either a nicotinized or denicotinized cigarette in counterbalanced order. Positive affect was assessed before and at two time points after smoking. RESULTS: Random effects regression showed a significant anhedonia by condition-by-time interaction [t(181)=-2.01, p = 0.04], supporting the hypothesis that anhedonia moderated nicotine's effect on changes in positive affect. Simple effect analyses showed a significant condition-by-time interaction among high anhedonic smokers [t(91)= 2.47, p = 0.01] but not among less anhedonic smokers [t(91)= 0.34, p = 0.73]. CONCLUSION: Smoking nicotine vs placebo heightened anhedonic smokers' ability to be induced into a positive mood, whereas nicotine had no effect on more hedonic smokers' positive mood.
Authors: Janet Audrain-McGovern; Daniel Rodriguez; Adam M Leventhal; Jocelyn Cuevas; Kelli Rodgers; Joseph Sass Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2012-03-01 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Adam M Leventhal; Marcus Munafò; Jennifer W Tidey; Steve Sussman; John R Monterosso; Ping Sun; Christopher W Kahler Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2012-02-04 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Adam M Leventhal; Andrew J Waters; Christopher W Kahler; Lara A Ray; Steve Sussman Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2009-07-01 Impact factor: 4.244