The influence of instructions and nicotine dose on the subjective and reinforcing effects of smoking.
Subjective and reinforcing effects of smoking a cigarette were examined within a 2 x 2 modified balanced-placebo design, which manipulated instructions about nicotine content (i.e., told regular nicotine vs. told low nicotine) and actual nicotine dose (given a regular nicotine brand vs. a denicotinized brand). Most ratings of the nicotine content and reward value of cigarettes were higher for those told regular nicotine versus told low nicotine, and for those given regular nicotine versus given low nicotine. Nicotine and instructions did not affect craving, withdrawal, or smoke-reinforced responding, but instructions affected the number of puffs earned for those given low nicotine (i.e., placebo effect). Thus, verbal information (instructions) can influence some responses to smoking consistent with the presence of placebo and antiplacebo effects.
Perkins
Kenneth A
KA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. perkinska@msx.upmc.edu
Jacobs
Lynette
L
Ciccocioppo
Melinda
M
Conklin
Cynthia
C
Sayette
Michael
M
Caggiula
Anthony
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking
D009538:Nicotine