John R Hughes1,2, Elias M Klemperer1,2, Catherine Peasley-Miklus1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. 2. Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: When animals undergo nicotine deprivation, rewards become less rewarding (ie, anhedonia occurs). We searched for tests of whether anhedonia occurs in abstinent smokers. METHODS: The major inclusion criterion was a within-participants comparison of behavioral measures of reward sensitivity or self-reported anhedonia during smoking versus during abstinence among daily smokers. A computerized search of PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane databases and other methods located 13 studies. All but one were laboratory studies. RESULTS: The number of studies and participants were small and the results mixed. In terms of anticipatory anhedonia (ie, wanting a reward), abstinence appeared to decrease willingness to work for immediately available rewards, but did not appear to influence how much adding rewards to a task increased responding. Abstinence also appeared to produce small increases in self-reported anticipatory anhedonia. In terms of consummatory anhedonia (ie, liking a reward), self-report measures found anhedonia decreased pleasure from rewards in some but not all tests. In terms of learning (ie, learning to choose a more frequent reward), abstinence did not reliably decrease allocating responding to high versus low frequency reward options. CONCLUSIONS: Although results were mixed, abstinence appears to increase anticipatory anhedonia. It is unclear if abstinence increases consummatory or reward learning-based anhedonia. Further studies of anhedonia in clinical settings are needed (1) to estimate the reliability and clinical significance of anhedonia as a symptom of tobacco withdrawal, (2) to assess if effects represent withdrawal versus offset processes, and (3) to assess if anhedonia interferes with the ability to stop smoking. IMPLICATIONS: Anticipatory anhedonia appears to be a symptom of tobacco withdrawal and should be added to tobacco withdrawal checklists and diagnostic criteria. Further study of consummatory and learning-based anhedonia is warranted.
INTRODUCTION: When animals undergo nicotine deprivation, rewards become less rewarding (ie, anhedonia occurs). We searched for tests of whether anhedonia occurs in abstinent smokers. METHODS: The major inclusion criterion was a within-participants comparison of behavioral measures of reward sensitivity or self-reported anhedonia during smoking versus during abstinence among daily smokers. A computerized search of PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane databases and other methods located 13 studies. All but one were laboratory studies. RESULTS: The number of studies and participants were small and the results mixed. In terms of anticipatory anhedonia (ie, wanting a reward), abstinence appeared to decrease willingness to work for immediately available rewards, but did not appear to influence how much adding rewards to a task increased responding. Abstinence also appeared to produce small increases in self-reported anticipatory anhedonia. In terms of consummatory anhedonia (ie, liking a reward), self-report measures found anhedonia decreased pleasure from rewards in some but not all tests. In terms of learning (ie, learning to choose a more frequent reward), abstinence did not reliably decrease allocating responding to high versus low frequency reward options. CONCLUSIONS: Although results were mixed, abstinence appears to increase anticipatory anhedonia. It is unclear if abstinence increases consummatory or reward learning-based anhedonia. Further studies of anhedonia in clinical settings are needed (1) to estimate the reliability and clinical significance of anhedonia as a symptom of tobacco withdrawal, (2) to assess if effects represent withdrawal versus offset processes, and (3) to assess if anhedonia interferes with the ability to stop smoking. IMPLICATIONS: Anticipatory anhedonia appears to be a symptom of tobacco withdrawal and should be added to tobacco withdrawal checklists and diagnostic criteria. Further study of consummatory and learning-based anhedonia is warranted.
Authors: W Lawn; T P Freeman; C Hindocha; C Mokrysz; R K Das; C J A Morgan; H V Curran Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2015-03-12 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Laura MacPherson; Matthew T Tull; Alexis K Matusiewicz; Samantha Rodman; David R Strong; Christopher W Kahler; Derek R Hopko; Michael J Zvolensky; Richard A Brown; C W Lejuez Journal: J Consult Clin Psychol Date: 2010-02
Authors: Michele L Pergadia; Andre Der-Avakian; Athina Markou; Diego A Pizzagalli; Manoranjan S D'Souza; Pamela A F Madden; Andrew C Heath; Saul Shiffman Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: John R Hughes; Peter W Callas; Jeff S Priest; Jean-Francois Etter; Alan J Budney; Stacey C Sigmon Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2017-06-01 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Andrea H Weinberger; Marc L Steinberg; Sarah D Mills; Sarah S Dermody; Jaimee L Heffner; Amanda Y Kong; Raina D Pang; Rachel L Rosen Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2022-03-26 Impact factor: 5.825
Authors: Elias M Klemperer; John R Hughes; Catherine E Peasley-Miklus; Peter W Callas; Jessica W Cook; Joanna M Streck; Nicolas E Morley Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-01-22 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Madalyn M Liautaud; Afton Kechter; Mariel S Bello; Casey R Guillot; Jason A Oliver; Devin E Banks; Lina M D'Orazio; Adam M Leventhal Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2021-06-10 Impact factor: 3.492