Smoking-induced change in intrasynaptic dopamine concentration: Effect of treatment for Tobacco Dependence

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether standard treatments for Tobacco Dependence affect smoking-induced changes in intrasynaptic dopamine (DA) concentration. Forty-three otherwise healthy adult cigarette smokers (10 to 40 cigarettes per day) were treated with either practical group counseling (PGC) psychotherapy (n = 14), bupropion HCl (n = 14), or matching pill placebo (n = 15) (random assignment) for 8 weeks. Before and after treatment, each subject underwent a bolus-plus-continuous-infusion 11 C-raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) scanning session, during which he or she smoked a regular cigarette. The PET scanning outcome measure of interest was percent change in smoking-induced 11 C-raclopride binding potential (BP ND ) in the ventral caudate/nucleus accumbens (VCD/NAc), as an indirect measure of DA release. Although the entire study sample had a smaller mean smoking-induced reduction in VCD/ NAc BP ND after treatment (compared to before treatment), this change was highly correlated with smaller total cigarette puff volumes (and not other treatment variables). These data indicate that smoking-induced DA release is dose-dependent, and is not significantly affected by reductions in daily smoking levels or treatment type.

Substance use, medication adherence and outcome one year following a first episode of psychosis

“…One possibility is that chronic nicotine use dysregulated dopamine signaling (Brody et al, 2010). Our results indicate a role for medication adherence in the association between nicotine dependence and non-remission.…”

Combination Extended Smoking Cessation Treatment Plus Home Visits for Smokers With Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…For demographic and smoking-related information, the Smokers' Profile Form was administered, as in past studies of smoking cessation treatment. [41][42][43] Smoking behavior was assessed with an exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) level (MicroSmokerlyzer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd, Kent, United Kingdom) and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). 44,45 While some investigators have questioned the use of the standard FTND in smokers with schizophrenia, 46,47 there is considerable support in the literature for its use.…”

Imaging Nicotine- and Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in Rhesus Monkeys with [11C]PHNO vs [11C]raclopride PET

“…11 C]raclopride BP ND by B8% (Brody et al, 2006(Brody et al, , 2009a(Brody et al, , 2010 and up to 10% (Scott et al, 2007) in the ventral striatum in acutely abstinent tobacco smokers, but also see Barrett et al (2004). Note that nicotine alone may not be responsible for smoking-induced DA release.…”