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Does Tobacco Abstinence Decrease Reward Sensitivity? A Human Laboratory Test.

ABSTRACT: Introduction:Animal studies report abstinence from nicotine makes rewards less rewarding; however, the results of human tests of the effects of cessation on reward sensitivity are mixed. The current study tested reward sensitivity in abstinent smokers using more rigorous methods than most prior studies. Methods:A human laboratory study compared outcomes for 1 week prior to quitting to those during 4 weeks postquit. The study used smokers trying to quit, objective and subjective measures, multiple measures during smoking and abstinence, and monetary rewards to increase the prevalence of abstinence. Current daily smokers (n = 211) who were trying to quit completed an operant measure of reward sensitivity and a survey of pleasure from various rewards as well as self-reports of anhedonia, delay discounting, positive affect, and tobacco withdrawal twice each week. A comparison group of long-term former smokers (n = 67) also completed the tasks weekly for 4 weeks. Primary analyses were based on the 61 current smokers who abstained for all 4 weeks. Results:Stopping smoking decreased self-reported pleasure from rewards but did not decrease reward sensitivity on the operant task. Abstinence also decreased self-reported reward frequency and increased the two anhedonia measures. However, the changes with abstinence were small for all outcomes (6%-14%) and most lasted less than a week. Conclusions:Abstinence from tobacco decreased most self-report measures of reward sensitivity; however, it did not change the objective measure. The self-report effects were small. Implications:Animal research suggests that nicotine withdrawal decreases reward sensitivity. Replication tests of this in humans have produced inconsistent results. We report what we believe is a more rigorous test. We found smoking abstinence slightly decreases self-reports of reward sensitivity but does not do so for a behavioral measure of reward sensitivity.

SUBMITTER: Hughes JR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5939828 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Does Tobacco Abstinence Decrease Reward Sensitivity? A Human Laboratory Test.

Hughes John R JR Budney Alan J AJ Muellers Sharon R SR Lee Dustin C DC Callas Peter W PW Sigmon Stacey C SC Fingar James R JR Priest Jeff J

Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 20170601 6

<h4>Introduction</h4>Animal studies report abstinence from nicotine makes rewards less rewarding; however, the results of human tests of the effects of cessation on reward sensitivity are mixed. The current study tested reward sensitivity in abstinent smokers using more rigorous methods than most prior studies.<h4>Methods</h4>A human laboratory study compared outcomes for 1 week prior to quitting to those during 4 weeks postquit. The study used smokers trying to quit, objective and subjective me ...[more]

PMID: 28486707

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Project description:Tobacco use or abstinence may increase or decrease reward sensitivity. Most existing measures of reward sensitivity were developed decades ago, and few have undergone extensive psychometric testing.We developed a 58-item survey of the anticipated enjoyment from, wanting for, and frequency of common rewards (the Rewarding Events Inventory-REI). The current analysis focuses on ratings of anticipated enjoyment. The first validation study recruited current and former smokers from Internet sites. The second study recruited smokers who wished to quit and monetarily reinforced them to stay abstinent in a laboratory study and a comparison group of former smokers. In both studies, participants completed the inventory on two occasions, 3-7 days apart. They also completed four anhedonia scales and a behavioral test of reduced reward sensitivity.Half of the enjoyment ratings loaded on four factors: socializing, active hobbies, passive hobbies, and sex/drug use. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were all ?0.73 for overall mean and factor scores. Test-retest correlations were all ?0.83. Correlations of the overall and factor scores with frequency of rewards and anhedonia scales were 0.19-0.53, except for the sex/drugs factor. The scores did not correlate with behavioral tests of reward and did not differ between current and former smokers. Lower overall mean enjoyment score predicted a shorter time to relapse.Internal reliability and test-retest reliability of the enjoyment outcomes of the REI are excellent, and construct and predictive validity are modest but promising. The REI is comprehensive and up-to-date, yet is short enough to use on repeated occasions. Replication tests, especially predictive validity tests, are needed.Both use of and abstinence from nicotine appear to increase or decrease how rewarding nondrug rewards are; however, self-report scales to test this have limitations. Our inventory of enjoyment from 58 rewards appears to be reliable and valid as well as comprehensive and up-to-date, yet is short enough to use on repeated occasions. Replication tests, especially of the predictive validity of our scale, are needed.

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Does Tobacco Abstinence Decrease Reward Sensitivity? A Human Laboratory Test.

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Does Tobacco Abstinence Decrease Reward Sensitivity? A Human Laboratory Test.

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