title: Changes in the relative reinforcing effects of cigarette smoking as a function of initial abstinence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental research is needed in investigating how early smoking abstinence affects relapse risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed the feasibility of promoting smoking abstinence using once- rather than thrice-daily abstinence monitoring and the relationship between different durations of initial abstinence and changes in smoking preference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 34 adult smokers randomized into one of two conditions: 14-day (14C) and 1-day (1C) contingent payment for smoking abstinence. Smoking status and participant ratings were assessed daily; a delay discounting task involving hypothetical money and an inter-temporal choice task involving hypothetical money and cigarettes were administered at baseline and days 7 and 14; a direct test of preference for smoking versus money was assessed on day 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Once-daily monitoring gained robust experimental control over smoking abstinence. No differences in delay discounting for hypothetical money were observed between the two conditions. Compared to the 1C condition, participants in the 14C condition (1) showed significant increases in the mean percent of delayed hypothetical money over cigarettes choices in the inter-temporal choice task, (2) were significantly less likely to ever choose the smoking option in the direct test of preference for smoking versus money, and (3) reported greater ease of abstaining from smoking and lower nicotine withdrawal and craving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results offer a more efficient procedure for experimentally promoting smoking abstinence, while providing further evidence that an initial period of sustained abstinence produces a profile of changes consistent with an overall lowering of relapse risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. jiny@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Jin H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bradstreet
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: Colleen S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine