Background: Most models of dependence posit that dependence is related to background craving – a tonic state of craving when deprived. Theory and research are conflicted about how dependence relates to cue-induced craving – phasic increases in response to cues. Some models consider cue-induced craving part of dependence, and others imply that cue-responsivity disappears with dependence. These associations are further complicated by the a variety of measures of nicotine dependence, which take different theoretical approaches to the conceptualization of dependence. Method: Participants (n=198, 57% men) were daily smokers averaging 16.01 (6.71) cigarettes per day. Participants were not trying to quit smoking. We examined data from 4 cue-reactivity sessions, with cue sets (smoking, negative affect, positive affect, neutral) counterbalanced across sessions. In each session, after a 30-minute deprivation period, participants viewed 30 cue-relevant photos validated for content and shown over 3 minutes (6 seconds each). Participants rated their craving before and after cues (QSU-Brief, scaled as 1-49). Participants completed measures of nicotine dependence (FTND, NDSS, WISDM-68), which were used to predict craving. Multivariate and univariate regression models were used to predict background craving (pre-cue) and cue-induced craving (pre-post cue change scores) for QSU Factors 1 and 2. Results: Dependence measures predicted background craving, both factors 1 and 2. They did not predict cue response (controlling for session number and change in response to the neutral cue) for any cue. Conclusion: Cue-induced craving is unrelated to nicotine dependence, as traditionally assessed. Models and measures of dependence must take into account cue-induced craving. Future studies should examine the relationship between reactivity to cues and actual smoking behavior, in order to better understand how reactivity to cues and nicotine dependence may function independently or synergistically to influence smoking behavior.

Item Type:	Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	nicotine
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Preventive Medicine
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health)
Objective Field:	Substance Abuse
UTAS Author:	Ferguson, SG (Associate Professor Stuart Ferguson)
ID Code:	92380
Year Published:	2011
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2014-06-17
Last Modified:	2017-11-06
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