title: Incubation of cue-induced cigarette craving during abstinence in human smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abstinent drug users remain at risk for relapse long after withdrawal subsides. Animal studies indicate that responses to drug-related cues not only persist but increase with abstinence, a phenomenon termed "incubation of drug craving." It is unknown whether cue-induced craving increases, decreases, or remains constant with abstinence in humans. We investigated effects of abstinence on cue-induced craving in cigarette smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six non-treatment-seeking, adult smokers (≥10 cigarettes daily) were paid to abstain for 7 (Group 1), 14 (Group 2), or 35 (Groups 3 and 4) days. Abstinence was verified daily. Groups 1, 2, and 3 underwent a single cue session on the final abstinence day (7, 14, or 35). Group 4 viewed cues on Days 7, 14, and 35.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between and within groups, smoking-cue-induced craving increased with abstinence on some measures. Cue-induced craving was greater in Group 3 (35-day) compared with Group 1 (7-day). Within Group 4, cue-induced craving was greater at 35 than 14 days. Cue-induced craving did not decrease with abstinence on any measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present initial evidence of incubation of cue-induced craving in humans. The observation that cue-induced craving increases with abstinence, even as "background" craving and withdrawal symptoms subside, might have treatment implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. GB2326@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Gillinder
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: Kenzie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heishman
authors.forename: Gina F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Marrone
authors.forename: Yavin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shaham
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Wit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003463:Cues; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
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