BACKGROUND: Delay discounting is a measure of future-oriented decision-making and impulsivity. Cigarette smoking is associated with rapid discounting of the value of delayed outcomes. In schizophrenia, however, cigarette smoking improves certain neurocognitive impairments associated with the disorder which may explain the high smoking rates in this population. This study examined the relationship between cigarette smoking and delay discounting in schizophrenia and control participants. METHODS: A total of N=130 participants, including those with schizophrenia (n=68) and healthy controls (n=62) were assessed on the Kirby Delay Discounting Task and compared across smoking status (smokers; non-smokers) and smoking history (current, former; never smokers). RESULTS: Smokers exhibited higher discounting rates (i.e., were more impulsive) than non-smokers of the same diagnostic group. Current and former smokers with schizophrenia exhibited similar and significantly higher discounting rates than never smokers, suggesting that in schizophrenia delay discounting is a trait-dependent phenomenon independent of current cigarette smoking. Consistent with previous studies, there was a trend for higher discounting rates in control current smokers compared to control former and never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers with and without schizophrenia have higher rates of delay discounting than non-smokers. However, in schizophrenia, rapid delay discounting appears to be a trait associated with having ever been a smoker (i.e., current and former smoking).
BACKGROUND: Delay discounting is a measure of future-oriented decision-making and impulsivity. Cigarette smoking is associated with rapid discounting of the value of delayed outcomes. In schizophrenia, however, cigarette smoking improves certain neurocognitive impairments associated with the disorder which may explain the high smoking rates in this population. This study examined the relationship between cigarette smoking and delay discounting in schizophrenia and control participants. METHODS: A total of N=130 participants, including those with schizophrenia (n=68) and healthy controls (n=62) were assessed on the Kirby Delay Discounting Task and compared across smoking status (smokers; non-smokers) and smoking history (current, former; never smokers). RESULTS: Smokers exhibited higher discounting rates (i.e., were more impulsive) than non-smokers of the same diagnostic group. Current and former smokers with schizophrenia exhibited similar and significantly higher discounting rates than never smokers, suggesting that in schizophrenia delay discounting is a trait-dependent phenomenon independent of current cigarette smoking. Consistent with previous studies, there was a trend for higher discounting rates in control current smokers compared to control former and never smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers with and without schizophrenia have higher rates of delay discounting than non-smokers. However, in schizophrenia, rapid delay discounting appears to be a trait associated with having ever been a smoker (i.e., current and former smoking).
Authors: Michael Amlung; Emma Marsden; Katherine Holshausen; Vanessa Morris; Herry Patel; Lana Vedelago; Katherine R Naish; Derek D Reed; Randi E McCabe Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2019-11-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Rosalyn Eve Weller; Kathy Burton Avsar; James Edward Cox; Meredith Amanda Reid; David Matthew White; Adrienne Carol Lahti Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2013-12-04 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Jonathan E Friedel; William B DeHart; Charles C J Frye; Jillian M Rung; Amy L Odum Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Kristen R Hamilton; Marci R Mitchell; Victoria C Wing; Iris M Balodis; Warren K Bickel; Mark Fillmore; Scott D Lane; C W Lejuez; Andrew K Littlefield; Maartje Luijten; Charles W Mathias; Suzanne H Mitchell; T Celeste Napier; Brady Reynolds; Christian G Schütz; Barry Setlow; Kenneth J Sher; Alan C Swann; Stephanie E Tedford; Melanie J White; Catharine A Winstanley; Richard Yi; Marc N Potenza; F Gerard Moeller Journal: Personal Disord Date: 2015-04