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Effects of smoking abstinence on impulsive behavior among smokers high and low in ADHD-like symptoms

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Abstract

Rationale

Impulsivity, a multifaceted construct that includes inhibitory control and heightened preference for immediate reward, is central to models of drug use and abuse. Within a self-medication framework, abstinence from smoking may lead to an increase in impulsive behavior and the likelihood of relapse, particularly among persons with disorders (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD) and personality traits (e.g., impulsivity) linked to impulsive behavior.

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the effects of smoking abstinence on multiple measures of impulsivity among a non-clinical sample of adult smokers selected for high and low levels of ADHD symptoms.

Methods

In a within-subjects design, participants selected for high or low levels of self-reported ADHD symptoms (N = 56) completed sessions following overnight abstinence and when smoking as usual (order counterbalanced). Measures of impulsive behavior included response inhibition (i.e., stop signal task), interference control (i.e., attentional modification of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle), and impulsive choice (i.e., hypothetical delay discounting).

Results

As hypothesized, abstinence decreased response inhibition and PPI. Although ADHD symptoms moderated abstinence effects on impulsive choice and response inhibition, the pattern was opposite to our predictions: the low-ADHD group responded more impulsively when abstinent, whereas the high-ADHD group was relatively unaffected by abstinence.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of utilizing multiple laboratory measures to examine a multifactorial construct such as impulsive behavior and raise questions about how best to assess symptoms of ADHD and impulsivity among non-abstinent smokers.

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Notes

  1. Raw ADHD symptom scores were examined in preliminary analyses and the patterns were consistent with T-scores. Since T-scores take into account overall differences in symptom levels between men and women, T-scores were included in subsequent analyses.

  2. Mean reaction time was longer during abstinence compared to the non-abstinent session, means (SEs) = 530 (16) and 510 (16), respectively, GoRT F(1, 251) = 9.6, p = 0.002. Reaction time variability (i.e., SDRT) was higher and percent inhibition tended to be higher during abstinence, F(1, 250) = 24.2, p < 0.01 and F(1, 250) = 3.6, p = 0.06, respectively. There were no main effects of ADHD symptoms, nor did ADHD moderate abstinence effects on any of these stop task variables, ps > 0.17. There were no significant effects for mean stop delay, Fs < 1

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Acknowledgments

This work was completed as part of the doctoral dissertation of RLA under the supervision of LWH. The authors thank committee members, William E. Pelham, Jr., Jerry Richards, Mark Seery, and Steven Tiffany for their thoughtful feedback and comments on the project design and earlier drafts of the manuscript were helpful in designing and implementing this study. The authors also thank Danielle Chaffee, Frances Cukierwar, and Valeriya Nitko for running experimental sessions and Mark Kogutowski for help with computer programming. All participants in this research gave informed consent and were treated in accordance with applicable ethical guidelines. This research was supported by grants F31 DA024532 to RLA and R01 MH069434 to LWH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 206 Park Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Rebecca L. Ashare & Larry W. Hawk Jr.

  2. Center for Children and Families, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Larry W. Hawk Jr.

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  1. Rebecca L. Ashare
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  2. Larry W. Hawk Jr.
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Correspondence to Rebecca L. Ashare.

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Ashare, R.L., Hawk, L.W. Effects of smoking abstinence on impulsive behavior among smokers high and low in ADHD-like symptoms. Psychopharmacology 219, 537–547 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2324-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2324-2

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