Associations between Pain Intensity and Urge to Smoke: Testing the Role of Negative Affect and Pain Catastrophizing

Urge to smoke tobacco is a critical aspect of tobacco dependence, and there is evidence of covariation between pain intensity and self-reported urge to smoke. However, direct tests of this association have relied almost exclusively on clinical pain samples or experimental paradigms. The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that current pain intensity would be positively associated with self-reported urge to smoke, among a sample of daily cigarette smokers who were recruited from the local community and excluded if they endorsed current chronic pain. We also sought to examine the role of negative affect and conduct the first test of pain catastrophizing in relations between pain intensity and urge to smoke tobacco. Participants (N = 229, 42.4% Female, 38.9% black/African American, Mcpd = 21.9) were recruited for a laboratory study of pain and smoking, and these data were collected at the baseline session. Consistent with expectation, current pain intensity was positively associated with total urge to smoke (ps \u3c .05), and urge to smoke for the relief of negative affect (ps \u3c .05). We further observed an indirect association via state negative affect, such that pain intensity was positively associated with negative affect, which in turn was associated with greater urge to smoke scores (ps \u3c .05). Pain catastrophizing was found to be a significant moderator, such that positive associations between pain intensity and urge to smoke were only evident among smokers who endorsed low levels of catastrophizing (ps \u3c .05). These findings contribute to an emerging literature indicating that pain and related constructs are relevant to the maintenance of tobacco smoking. Future research should examine how pain-relevant cognitive-affective factors may influence associations between the experience of pain and motivation to smoke tobacco cigarettes

Associations between Pain Intensity and Urge to Smoke: Testing the Role of Negative Affect and Pain Catastrophizing

Urge to smoke tobacco is a critical aspect of tobacco dependence, and there is evidence of covariation between pain intensity and self-reported urge to smoke. However, direct tests of this association have relied almost exclusively on clinical pain samples or experimental paradigms. The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that current pain intensity would be positively associated with self-reported urge to smoke, among a sample of daily cigarette smokers who were recruited from the local community and excluded if they endorsed current chronic pain. We also sought to examine the role of negative affect and conduct the first test of pain catastrophizing in relations between pain intensity and urge to smoke tobacco. Participants (N = 229, 42.4% Female, 38.9% black/African American, Mcpd = 21.9) were recruited for a laboratory study of pain and smoking, and these data were collected at the baseline session. Consistent with expectation, current pain intensity was positively associated with total urge to smoke (ps \u3c .05), and urge to smoke for the relief of negative affect (ps \u3c .05). We further observed an indirect association via state negative affect, such that pain intensity was positively associated with negative affect, which in turn was associated with greater urge to smoke scores (ps \u3c .05). Pain catastrophizing was found to be a significant moderator, such that positive associations between pain intensity and urge to smoke were only evident among smokers who endorsed low levels of catastrophizing (ps \u3c .05). These findings contribute to an emerging literature indicating that pain and related constructs are relevant to the maintenance of tobacco smoking. Future research should examine how pain-relevant cognitive-affective factors may influence associations between the experience of pain and motivation to smoke tobacco cigarettes

Menthol cigarette use and pain reporting among African American adults seeking treatment for smoking cessation

Nicotine has acute pain-relieving properties, and tobacco smokers often report using cigarettes to cope with pain. The proportion of smokers using menthol cigarettes has increased in recent years, and there is reason to suspect that menthol may enhance the analgesic effects of nicotine. Up to 90% of African American smokers report using menthol cigarettes, and African Americans tend to report more severe pain and greater difficulty quitting. Yet no known research has examined the relationship between menthol cigarette use and pain reporting. Thus, the goal of the current study was to test associations between menthol (vs. nonmenthol) cigarette use and pain among a sample of African American smokers. Current daily cigarette smokers (N = 115; 70% male; Mage = 47.05; MCPD = 15.2) were recruited to participate in a smoking cessation study. These data were collected at the baseline session. Daily menthol (vs. nonmenthol) cigarette use was associated with lower current pain intensity, lower average and worst pain over the past 3 months, and less pain-related physical impairment over the past 3 months. This study demonstrates that menthol (vs. nonmenthol) cigarette use is associated with less pain and pain-related functional interference among African American smokers seeking tobacco cessation treatment. Future research is needed to examine the potential acute analgesic effects of menthol versus nonmenthol cigarette use, examine temporal covariation between menthol cigarette use and pain reporting, and test whether pain-relevant processes contribute to the maintenance of menthol cigarette smoking among those with and without chronic pain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

Medication Adherence and HIV Symptom Distress in Relation to Panic Disorder Among HIV-Positive Adults Managing Opioid Dependence

Panic disorder (PD) occurs at greater rates among those with HIV compared to those without HIV. Rates of PD may be elevated among those with opioid dependence (persons who inject drugs, PWID). Persons with HIV experience common bodily symptoms as a result of the disease and these symptoms overlap with those of PD which may contribute to a “fear of fear” cycle present in PD. HIV-positive, PWID represent an at-risk population in terms of poor medication adherence. HIV symptoms and HIV medication side-effects commonly overlap with panic symptoms and may affect HIV medication adherence. The aim of this investigation was to examine the impact of PD on HIV-related symptom distress and HIV medication adherence in HIV-positive adults (N = 131) in treatment for opioid use. Those with a diagnosis of PD evidenced greater levels of HIV symptom distress and lower levels of medication adherence than those without current PD. Results highlight the clinical importance of assessing for and treating PD among individuals with HIV that are prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Future work would benefit from examining observed associations longitudinally and identifying potential mechanisms involved