Kara S Bagot1, Ran Wu2, Dana Cavallo2, Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin2. 1. University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0405, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States. Electronic address: kbagot@ucsd.edu. 2. Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 300 George St., Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, United States.
Abstract
PURPOSE: We examined sex differences between smokers and nonsmokers in pain threshold, tolerance, and intensity and the effect of pain on cardiovascular measures, withdrawal, and craving during acute smoking abstinence. METHODS: Ninety-six (53 smokers, 43 nonsmokers) adolescents completed the Cold Pressor Task (CPT) to assess pain responses after minimal (1h) and 42-hour smoking deprivation. Vital signs and craving were assessed before and after CPT completion. RESULTS: Smokers, compared to nonsmokers, had significantly lower pain tolerance (p<0.01) and pain threshold (p<0.001). Female smokers had significantly lower pain tolerance prior to, and following, 42-hour deprivation compared to male smokers (p's<0.01), male nonsmokers (p's<0.01), and female nonsmokers (p's<0.001), while male smokers demonstrated significantly decreased pain tolerance following 42-hour deprivation (p<0.05). Additionally, during minimal deprivation, at time of hand removal, female smokers had higher pain intensity compared to female nonsmokers (p<0.05) and male smokers (p<0.01). Withdrawal was not significantly correlated with any CPT measures or subjective pain during or following minimal deprivation or acute abstinence. Craving was associated with pain 15s after hand submersion (p=0.007) at 42-hour deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers had a lower pain threshold than non-smokers, with female smokers demonstrating lower pain tolerance during minimal deprivation than all comparison groups, and, continuing to have diminished pain tolerance compared to female nonsmokers following 42h of abstinence. Male smokers demonstrated tobacco-deprivation-induced reductions in pain tolerance. Further study of pain-related factors that may contribute to relapse and maintenance of smoking behaviors, and mechanisms of these relationships among adolescent smokers is warranted.
PURPOSE: We examined sex differences between smokers and nonsmokers in pain threshold, tolerance, and intensity and the effect of pain on cardiovascular measures, withdrawal, and craving during acute smoking abstinence. METHODS: Ninety-six (53 smokers, 43 nonsmokers) adolescents completed the Cold Pressor Task (CPT) to assess pain responses after minimal (1h) and 42-hour smoking deprivation. Vital signs and craving were assessed before and after CPT completion. RESULTS: Smokers, compared to nonsmokers, had significantly lower pain tolerance (p<0.01) and pain threshold (p<0.001). Female smokers had significantly lower pain tolerance prior to, and following, 42-hour deprivation compared to male smokers (p's<0.01), male nonsmokers (p's<0.01), and female nonsmokers (p's<0.001), while male smokers demonstrated significantly decreased pain tolerance following 42-hour deprivation (p<0.05). Additionally, during minimal deprivation, at time of hand removal, female smokers had higher pain intensity compared to female nonsmokers (p<0.05) and male smokers (p<0.01). Withdrawal was not significantly correlated with any CPT measures or subjective pain during or following minimal deprivation or acute abstinence. Craving was associated with pain 15s after hand submersion (p=0.007) at 42-hour deprivation. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers had a lower pain threshold than non-smokers, with female smokers demonstrating lower pain tolerance during minimal deprivation than all comparison groups, and, continuing to have diminished pain tolerance compared to female nonsmokers following 42h of abstinence. Male smokers demonstrated tobacco-deprivation-induced reductions in pain tolerance. Further study of pain-related factors that may contribute to relapse and maintenance of smoking behaviors, and mechanisms of these relationships among adolescent smokers is warranted.
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