Abstract
Rationale
In smokers, nicotine deprivation may increase impulsive decision-making and the demand for cigarettes.
Objectives
To investigate the effects of acute nicotine deprivation on (a) the delay discounting of monetary and cigarette rewards, and (b) the behavioural economics of hypothetical cigarette purchases.
Materials and methods
A repeated measures design was employed, with participants (daily cigarette smokers, N=30) repeating experimental tasks in two different sessions, once after at least 13 h of abstinence from smoking and once after ad lib smoking. Participants completed measures of cigarette craving, impulsivity, delay discounting and a behavioural economic simulation in which participants made hypothetical purchases of cigarettes and other commodities as the price of cigarettes was systematically varied.
Results
Participants showed more pronounced delay discounting of both cigarette and monetary rewards after abstinence compared to after ad lib smoking. In the behavioural economic simulation, nicotine deprivation had no influence on hypothetical cigarette purchases. However, spending on some commodities (alcohol, clothing, household goods, leisure activities and long-distance travel) was reduced as the price of cigarettes increased in order to fund increased spending on cigarettes, although the number of packs of cigarettes purchased actually decreased.
Conclusions
Nicotine deprivation increases impulsive choices for both cigarette and monetary rewards in a delay-discounting task. Results from a behavioural economic simulation suggest that increases in the price of cigarettes may increase smokers’ spending on cigarettes, while also reducing the number of cigarettes purchased.
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Notes
Participants completed identical versions of the gambling task in both experimental sessions. Results indicated that participants always performed better during the second session compared to the first, regardless of whether participants completed the abstinent or non-abstinent session first. Given the highly significant practice effects that were observed, the task may not be suitable for use in experiments that employ repeated measures designs, such as the present study. Results are not shown.
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Acknowledgement
This research was funded by a research development fund from the University of Liverpool, awarded to the first author.
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Field, M., Santarcangelo, M., Sumnall, H. et al. Delay discounting and the behavioural economics of cigarette purchases in smokers: the effects of nicotine deprivation. Psychopharmacology 186, 255–263 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0385-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0385-4