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Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access originally published online on May 28, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2009 11(7):823-826; doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp068
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Generalized craving, self-report of arousal, and cue reactivity after brief abstinence

Brian L. Carter, Cho Y. Lam, Jason D. Robinson, Megan M. Paris, Andrew J. Waters, David W. Wetter and Paul M. Cinciripini

Brian L. Carter, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cho Y. Lam, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Jason D. Robinson, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Megan M. Paris, B.A., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Andrew J. Waters, Ph.D., Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
David W. Wetter, Ph.D., Department of Health Disparities Research, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Paul M. Cinciripini, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Corresponding Author: Brian L. Carter, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, Unit 1330, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 301439, Houston, TX 77230-1439, USA. Telephone: 713-745-4294; Fax: 713-745-4286; E-mail: bcarter{at}mdanderson.org


  Abstract

Introduction: Numerous studies report smokers’ increased craving and physiological arousal when exposed to cigarette stimuli. These responses are attributed to learning processes (e.g., classical conditioning) and are associated with motivational factors that maintain nicotine dependence. However, much less is known about the degree to which these responses are maintained or diminished during quitting.

Methods: Treatment-seeking smokers (N = 104) were randomly assigned to continue smoking or to enter a 2-week treatment program. Abstainers (n = 25) were continuously abstinent for 14–17 days at the time of testing. Control subjects (n = 38) continued to smoke at their usual rate. Participants who were assigned to treatment but resumed smoking during the study (n = 41) were considered to be relapsers. Approximately 2 weeks after baseline measurements, abstainers and controls viewed a series of neutral (n = 12) and cigarette (n = 12) pictures, rating them for craving and arousal (feelings of calm vs. excitement).

Results: Non-cued craving (measured during exposure to neutral cues) was diminished in abstaining smokers. However, cigarette cues produced craving increases of the same magnitude in both abstainers and controls, showing that these cues still had evocative power for both groups. Abstaining smokers, who were not physiologically monitored, had lower self-reports of arousal to cigarette pictures than did controls, but the groups did not differ in arousal to neutral pictures.

Discussion: These findings suggest that the foundations of cue-induced craving, generalized craving, and physiological arousal associated with craving may arise from separate processes.

Received: May 16, 2008; Accepted: February 6, 2009
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