DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Jessica Werth Cook, Bonnie Spring, and Dennis E. McChargue: Infl uence of nicotine on positive affect in anhedonic smokers

Psychology, Department of

Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology

Title

Infl uence of nicotine on positive affect in anhedonic smokers

Authors

Jessica Werth Cook, University of Washington and Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
Bonnie Spring, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Dennis E. McChargue, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

December 2007

Comments

Abstract

Rationale – The possibility that individuals administer nicotine to self-regulate persistent negative affect has received interest as a possible explanation for the high prevalence of affectively vulnerable smokers. Relatively overlooked, however, is the possibility that smokers might also self-administer nicotine to elevate low positive affect.

Objectives – This study examined whether nicotine administration augmented anhedonic smokers’ positive affective response to a positive mood induction.

Materials and methods – Fifty regular smokers (50% female) underwent two positive mood inductions during which they smoked either a nicotinized or denicotinized cigarette in counterbalanced order. Positive affect was assessed before and at two time points after smoking.

Results – Random effects regression showed a significant anhedonia by condition-by-time interaction [t (181) = −2.01, p = 0.04], supporting the hypothesis that anhedonia moderated nicotine’s effect on changes in positive affect. Simple effect analyses showed a significant condition-by-time interaction among high anhedonic smokers [t(91) = 2.47, p= 0.01] but not among less anhedonic smokers [t (91) = 0.34, p = 0.73].

Conclusion – Smoking nicotine vs placebo heightened anhedonic smokers’ ability to be induced into a positive mood, whereas nicotine had no effect on more hedonic smokers’ positive mood.