Effects of 6-Week Use of Reduced-Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Smokers With and Without Elevated Depressive Symptoms.
The FDA recently acquired regulatory authority over tobacco products, leading to renewed interest in whether reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes would reduce tobacco dependence in the United States. Given the association between depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking, it is important to consider whether smokers with elevated depressive symptoms experience unique benefits or negative consequences of nicotine reduction.



In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that examined the effects of cigarettes varying in nicotine content over a 6-week period in non-treatment-seeking smokers, we used linear regression to examine whether baseline depressive symptom severity (scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]) moderated the effects of reduced-nicotine content (RNC) cigarettes, relative to normal-nicotine content (NNC) cigarettes, on smoking rates, depressive symptom severity, and related subjective and physiological measures.



Of the 717 participants included in this analysis, 109 (15.2%) had CES-D scores ≥ 16, indicative of possible clinical depression. Relative to NNC cigarettes, RNC cigarettes reduced smoking rates, nicotine dependence, and cigarette craving, and these effects were not significantly moderated by baseline CES-D score. A significant interaction between baseline CES-D score and cigarette condition on week 6 CES-D score was observed (p < .05); among those with CES-D scores ≥ 16 at baseline, those assigned to RNC cigarettes had lower week 6 CES-D scores than those assigned to NNC cigarettes. Among those in the lowest nicotine content conditions, biochemically confirmed compliance with the RNC cigarettes was associated with an increase in CES-D score for those with baseline CES-D scores < 16 and no change in CES-D score for those with baseline CES-D scores ≥ 16.



These findings provide initial evidence that a reduced-nicotine standard for cigarettes may reduce smoking, without worsening depressive symptoms, among smokers with elevated depressive symptoms.



This secondary analysis of a recent clinical trial examined whether depressive symptom severity moderated the effects of reduced-nicotine cigarettes on smoking and depressive symptoms. Results indicate that, regardless of baseline depressive symptoms, participants randomized to reduced-nicotine cigarettes had lower smoking rates, nicotine intake, nicotine dependence, and craving at week 6 post-randomization than those assigned to normal-nicotine cigarettes. In participants with higher baseline depressive symptoms, those assigned to reduced-nicotine cigarettes had lower week 6 depressive symptoms than those assigned to normal-nicotine cigarettes. These results suggest that a nicotine reduction policy could have beneficial effects for smokers, regardless of depressive symptom severity.
Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI; Jennifer_Tidey@brown.edu.
Jennifer W
JW
Tidey
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC.
Lauren R
LR
Pacek
Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Joseph S
JS
Koopmeiners
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Ryan
R
Vandrey
Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Natalie
N
Nardone
Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL.
David J
DJ
Drobes
Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Neal L
NL
Benowitz
Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Sarah S
SS
Dermody
Department of Biobehavioral Health and Population Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth, Duluth, MN.
Andrine
A
Lemieux
School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Rachel L
RL
Denlinger
Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Rachel
R
Cassidy
Department of Biobehavioral Health and Population Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth, Duluth, MN.
Mustafa
M
al'Absi
Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Dorothy K
DK
Hatsukami
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Eric C
EC
Donny
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
D009538:Nicotine