Anhedonia and the relative reward value of drug and nondrug reinforcers in cigarette smokers.

Abstract

Anhedonia—a psychopathologic trait indicative of diminished interest, pleasure, and enjoyment—has been linked to use of and addiction to several substances, including tobacco. We hypothesized that anhedonic drug users develop an imbalance in the relative reward value of drug versus nondrug reinforcers, which could maintain drug use behavior. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether anhedonia predicted the tendency to choose an immediate drug reward (i.e., smoking) over a less immediate nondrug reward (i.e., money) in a laboratory study of non–treatment-seeking adult cigarette smokers. Participants (N = 275, ≥ 10 cigarettes/day) attended a baseline visit that involved anhedonia assessment followed by 2 counterbalanced experimental visits: (a) after 16-hr smoking abstinence and (b) nonabstinent. At both experimental visits, participants completed self-report measures of mood state followed by a behavioral smoking task, which measured 2 aspects of the relative reward value of smoking versus money: (1) latency to initiate smoking when delaying smoking was monetarily rewarded and (2) willingness to purchase individual cigarettes. Results indicated that higher anhedonia predicted quicker smoking initiation and more cigarettes purchased. These relations were partially mediated by low positive and high negative mood states assessed immediately prior to the smoking task. Abstinence amplified the extent to which anhedonia predicted cigarette consumption among those who responded to the abstinence manipulation, but not the entire sample. Anhedonia may bias motivation toward smoking over alternative reinforcers, perhaps by giving rise to poor acute mood states. An imbalance in the reward value assigned to drug versus nondrug reinforcers may link anhedonia-related psychopathology to drug use.

Anxiety, depression, and cigarette smoking: A transdiagnostic vulnerability framework to understanding emotion–smoking comorbidity.

“…Similarly, the anticipatory Anh construct has been measured by questionnaires asking participants to rate interest, desire, and anticipation of such activities (e.g., “When I hear about a new movie starring my favorite actor, I can’t wait to see it,” Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale [TEPS]; Gard et al 2006). Measures of these distinct facets of Anh evidence moderate correlations with one another, suggesting that they are non-redundant, but related constructs; yet, these measures also load onto a common higher order latent dimension (Leventhal, Trujillo, et al, 2014). Each of these types of measures exhibit strong internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity from measure of global depression constructs (Franken, Rassin, & Muris, 2007; Leventhal et al, 2006; Leventhal et al, 2008; Gard et al 2006).…”

Tobacco withdrawal symptoms mediate motivation to reinstate smoking during abstinence.

“… 1 This sample partially overlaps with those analyzed in previous reports (Leventhal et al, 2014, 2013), which focused on research questions and analyses distinct from those described here. …”

Is the Effect of Anhedonia on Smoking Cessation Greater for Women Versus Men?

“…3,4 Anhedonic smokers may have a heightened bias toward the rewarding value of smoking, which may serve as a primary reinforcing mechanism for smoking behavior. 5 A special issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research emphasized the importance of evaluating the role of gender in smoking. 6 Given persistent gender differences in depression 7 and smoking cessation, 8 it is important to evaluate whether gender moderates the anhedonia-smoking cessation association.…”