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Sex differences in the influence of nicotine dose instructions on the reinforcing and self-reported rewarding effects of smoking

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Abstract

Rationale

Compared to men, the smoking behavior of women may be less responsive to nicotine and more responsive to nonpharmacological factors, perhaps including verbal information (e.g., dose instructions).

Objective

This study compared the influence of the presence vs absence of dose instructions on the subjective and reinforcing effects of nicotine via cigarette smoking in men and women.

Methods

Subjects (n=120) abstained overnight from smoking and were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Half of the subjects received nicotine cigarettes (Quest 1, yield of 0.6 mg), and the other half received denicotinized cigarettes (“denic”; Quest 3, yield of 0.05 mg). Furthermore, half of each subsample was accurately instructed they were receiving a “normal nicotine” or a “no nicotine” cigarette, while the other half received no instructions. Subjects completed baseline measures of craving and mood (positive and negative affect), took two puffs from the cigarette after receiving dose instructions or no instructions, and then rated the cigarette's “reward” value (liking, satisfying) and other characteristics. They also repeated the craving and mood measures. Subjects then smoked more of that same brand ad libitum over the next 30 min to measure reinforcement (puff number and latency to first puff).

Results

Overall, nicotine increased reward, other cigarette ratings, and positive affect, but did not affect craving or smoking behavior. However, results varied by sex. Dose instructions enhanced the effects of nicotine on smoking reward and reinforcement in women, while instructions tended to dampen or even reverse these effects of nicotine in men (i.e., interaction of sex×nicotine×instructions).

Conclusions

In women but not in men, the influence of nicotine on smoking reward and reinforcement is enhanced by accurate verbal information about the cigarette's nicotine dose. These results are consistent with the notion that the smoking behavior of women, relative to men, may be more responsive to nonpharmacological factors.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Grants DA12655 and DA16483 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The authors thank Carolyn Fonte for her helpful assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Kenneth A. Perkins, Todd Doyle, Melinda Ciccocioppo & Cynthia Conklin

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Michael Sayette & Anthony Caggiula

  3. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Kenneth A. Perkins

Authors
  1. Kenneth A. Perkins
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  2. Todd Doyle
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  3. Melinda Ciccocioppo
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  4. Cynthia Conklin
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  5. Michael Sayette
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  6. Anthony Caggiula
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Correspondence to Kenneth A. Perkins.

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Perkins, K.A., Doyle, T., Ciccocioppo, M. et al. Sex differences in the influence of nicotine dose instructions on the reinforcing and self-reported rewarding effects of smoking. Psychopharmacology 184, 600–607 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0103-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-0103-7

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