NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AND LABORATORY CUE-INDUCED CIGARETTE CRAVING
Michael Dunbar, M.S.
University of Pittsburgh, 2011
Background: The relationship between laboratory cue-induced craving and nicotine dependence is unclear. Some models consider cue-induced craving part of dependence, while others imply that responsiveness to cues disappears with dependence. These relationships are further complicated by different measures of nicotine dependence and craving. Method: Participants (n=207, 57% men) were daily smokers averaging 15.92 (6.70) cigarettes per day. We examined data from 4 cue-reactivity sessions, with cue sets (smoking, negative affect, positive affect, neutral) counterbalanced across sessions. In each session, after a 30-minute deprivation period, participants viewed 30 cue-relevant photos validated for content and shown over 3 minutes (6 seconds each). Participants rated their craving before and after cues (QSU-Brief, scaled as 1-49). Participants completed measures of nicotine dependence (FTND, NDSS, WISDM-68), which were used to predict craving. Multiple regression models were used to predict cue-induced craving (pre-post cue change scores) for QSU Factors 1 and 2. Results: Dependence measures were associated with background craving across sessions, but did not predict cue change in craving (Factor 1 or 2) for any cue. Conclusion: Laboratory cue-induced craving in response to smoking-relevant cues is unrelated to nicotine dependence, as traditionally assessed. Future work should investigate the relationship between reactivity to cues and actual smoking behavior, in order to better understand how reactivity to cues and dependence may function independently or synergistically to influence smoking behavior
