Grant Details
Grant Number: |
5R21CA088272-02 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Al'Absi, Mustafa |
Organization: |
University Of Minnesota Duluth |
Project Title: |
Psychobiological Mechanisms of Smoking Relapse |
Fiscal Year: |
2001 |
Abstract
DESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Description)
Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer and
cardiovascular diseases. Although the decades have witnessed accelerated
efforts to develop effective smoking cessation strategies, the long-term
success rates have been disappointing. The majority of smokers relapse within
two weeks of a cessation attempt, and little is known about the nature of this
early relapse. Smoking cessation is associated with negative affect symptoms.
These symptoms are intensified in stressful situations, possibly accelerating
the progression towards a full relapse. Mechanisms responsible for this stress
effect are not known. Without specific knowledge of the stress-related
biobehavioral changes, targeted efforts to reduce smoking and relapse will
remain limited. The long-term goal of this research is to determine the
psycho biological mechanisms responsible for smoking relapse. The specific
goal of this project is to evaluate hormonal changes during early abstinence
and in response to behavioral stress, and to assess the extent to which these
changes predict early relapse. Our central hypothesis is that exaggerated
responses to behavioral stress predict a shorter time to relapse. This
hypothesis is based on the well-established observation that stressful events,
characterized by negative emotions, are associated with rises in
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations. It is also
based on the observation that environmental stressors increase the risk for
smoking relapse. We will specifically determine the extent to which basal
cortisol activity during early smoking abstinence predicts relapse, examine
endocrine and cardiovascular responses to stress as predictors of smoking
relapse, and evaluate gender differences in psycho biological changes during
smoking abstinence and in response to behavioral stress.
This research focuses on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis, an important
stress-related biological system recently implicated in addiction. We will
integrate hormonal, autonomic and psychological indices to gain an accurate
profile of the stress response patterning among smokers and use this
information in a prospective fashion to predict relapse in men and women. The
results will provide a base of knowledge concerning psycho biological changes
associated with quitting and risk for relapse. This information will
facilitate efforts towards improving methods to identify and assist
individuals at high risk for relapse. Reducing relapse rates will contribute
significantly towards reducing smoking and its harmful effects.
Publications