Expectancy and pharmacology influence the subjective effects of nicotine in a balanced-placebo design.

Full Abstract

The expectancy and pharmacological effects of nicotine (0.60 mg) on memory and the subjective effects of cigarettes were examined by using a balanced-placebo design (i.e., expect either nicotine or no nicotine and receive either nicotine or no nicotine). A total of 120 college students who smoke were assigned to 1 of the 4 experimental groups, then rated the cigarettes on a number of dimensions and completed questionnaires on smoking urges, tension, and energy. Participants also completed tests of memory as well as predictions of memory. Pharmacology played a stronger role than expectancy in most ratings of the cigarettes, but significant effects of expectancy did emerge for feelings of increased wakefulness, concentration, calming, cigarette satisfaction, and hunger reduction. The presence of nicotine significantly reduced smoking urges, but expectancy alone reduced tension after smoking. Neither variable produced significant effects on memory or memory predictions. These findings demonstrate that nonpharmacological factors can play an important role in the self-reported effects of nicotine.

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Author information

Author/s: Kelemen, William L (WL); Kaighobadi, Farnaz (F);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840-0901, USA. wkelemen(-atsign-)csulb.edu

Grants: R03 DA018171-01 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R03 DA018171-02 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R03-DA018171 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology (Exp Clin Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 15 (issue 1) : pp 93-101

Dates: Created 2007/02/13; Completed 2007/07/05; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17295588, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Energy Metabolism - drug effects; physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Recall - drug effects; physiology
Nicotine - administration & dosage; pharmacology

Nicotine - administration & dosage; pharmacology
Nicotinic Agonists - administration & dosage; pharmacology
Questionnaires
Self Assessment (Psychology)
Smoking - psychology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - psychology
Task Performance and Analysis
Wakefulness - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Nicotinic Agonists (0) ; Nicotine (54-11-5)

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