Tobacco Images Choice and Its Association with Craving and Dependence in People who Smoke Cigarettes.

INTRODUCTION: Increased salience of drug-related cues over non-drug reinforcers can drive drug use and contribute to tobacco use disorder (TUD). An important scientific and clinical goal is to effectively measure this elevated drug-seeking behavior in TUD. However, most TUD assessments rely on self-reported cravings and cigarette consumption, not providing an objective measure of the impact of drug-cues on biasing behavior towards drugs. The probabilistic image choice (PIC) task investigates the choice of viewing drug-related pictures as compared to other salient pictures (e.g., pleasant and unpleasant). This study aimed to develop and validate the PIC task for TUD and evaluate the associations between behavioral choice and tobacco craving, daily cigarette consumption, quit attempts and motivation to quit, and nicotine dependence (the Fagerström score). METHODS: We recruited 468 smokers and 121 nonsmokers using the Prolific online platform. Participants performed the PIC task twice (at a one-month interval) and completed other measures relevant to TUD. RESULTS: compared to nonsmokers, tobacco smokers selected to view significantly more tobacco images and less pleasant (non-drug reinforcer) images, a profile that remained stable at retest. Individual differences in choice of tobacco as compared to pleasant images on the PIC task were associated with craving but not with the other tobacco dependence measures, suggesting that the task may serve as a behavioral proxy measure of drug "wanting" rather than of cumulative nicotine exposure or physical dependence. CONCLUSIONS: these results suggest that the PIC task can be a valuable tool for objectively assessing craving-associated tobacco seeking in TUD. IMPLICATIONS SECTION: which should provide a brief description about what the study addsMost of the current measures of tobacco use disorder (TUD) rely on self-reports of consumption, dependence and craving and do not take into consideration the role of drug-related cues in driving tobacco seeking. This study shows that the probabilistic image choice (PIC) task provides an objective, reliable proxy measure of tobacco image seeking behavior in people who smoke cigarettes that is linked to craving (desire) for smoking but not to other measures of TUD. Therefore, the PIC task may be a useful complementary tool for the classification, diagnosis, and prognosis of TUD.

Smokers with higher positive or negative urgency have lower rates of smoking cessation success 12 months after a quit attempt.

Impulsivity dimensions have been shown to be associated with smoking status and tobacco use disorder severity. However, it is important to determine the specific impulsivity traits associated with smoking relapse. This study aimed at investigating the associations between impulsivity traits and smoking cessation success among adult smokers at 12 months after a quit attempt. Participants were 68 adult smokers enrolled in a 3-month course of simvastatine or placebo associated with behavioral cessation support, with a 9-month follow-up (ADDICSTATINE study). They were classified in 3 groups according to smoking status: abstinent, reduction ≥ 50%baseline or reduction < 50%baseline at 3 and 12 months. Impulsivity traits were assessed using the UPPS-P-scale. At 12 months, abstainers and participants who reduced smoking by 50% or more had significantly lower scores in negative and positive urgency compared to participants who reduced smoking by less than 50% (p = 0.011 and 0.0059). These urgency traits scores at 12 months were significantly and negatively correlated with smoking reduction at 12 months (p = 0.017 and 0.0012). These impulsivity traits were also associated with the smoking cessation success at 3 months. Patients who were abstinent at 3 months had also lower negative and positive urgency (p = 0.017 and 0.0039). Smoking cessation success at 3 and 12 months were not associated with the other impulsivity traits, sensation seeking, lack of premeditation or perseverance. Our findings suggest that positive and negative urgency are associated with smoking cessation success. Proposing better tailored-based-treatment targeting these impulsivity traits in combination with conventional treatment may help improving smoking treatment success.

Insomnia and parasomnia induced by validated smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and electronic cigarettes: a network meta-analysis.

We aim to assess the relationship between validated smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and insomnia and parasomnia using a systematic review and a network meta-analysis. A systematic search was performed until August 2022 in the following databases: PUBMED, COCHRANE, CLINICALTRIAL. Randomized controlled studies against placebo or validated therapeutic smoking cessation methods and e-cigarettes in adult smokers without unstable or psychiatric comorbidity were included. The primary outcome was the presence of "insomnia" and "parasomnia." A total of 1261 studies were selected. Thirty-seven studies were included in the quantitative analysis (34 for insomnia and 23 for parasomnia). The reported interventions were varenicline (23 studies), nicotine replacement therapy (NRT, 10 studies), bupropion (15 studies). No studies on e-cigarettes were included. Bayesian analyses found that insomnia and parasomnia are more frequent with smoking cessation therapies than placebo except for bupropion. Insomnia was less frequent with nicotine substitutes but more frequent with bupropion than the over pharmacotherapies. Parasomnia are less frequent with bupropion but more frequent with varenicline than the over pharmacotherapies. Validated smoking cessation pharmacotherapies can induce sleep disturbances with different degrees of frequency. Our network meta-analysis shows a more favorable profile of nicotine substitutes for insomnia and bupropion for parasomnia. It seems essential to systematize the assessment of sleep disturbances in the initiation of smoking cessation treatment. This could help professionals to personalize the choice of treatment according to sleep parameters of each patient. Considering co-addictions, broadening the populations studied and standardizing the measurement are additional avenues for future research.

Tobacco Images Choice and Its Association with Craving and Dependence in Cigarette Smokers.

Introduction: Increased salience of drug-related cues over non-drug reinforcers can drive drug use and contribute to tobacco use disorder (TUD). An important scientific and clinical goal is to effectively measure this elevated drug-seeking behavior in TUD. However, most TUD assessments rely on self-reported cravings and cigarette consumption, not providing an objective measure of the impact of drug-cues on biasing behavior towards drugs. The probabilistic image choice (PIC) task investigates the choice of viewing drug-related pictures as compared to other salient pictures (e.g., pleasant and unpleasant). This study aimed to develop and validate the PIC task for TUD and evaluate the associations between behavioral choice and tobacco craving, daily cigarette consumption, quit attempts and motivation to quit, and nicotine dependence (the Fagerström score). Methods: We recruited 468 smokers and 121 nonsmokers using the Prolific online platform. Participants performed the PIC task twice (at a one-month interval) and completed other measures relevant to TUD. Results: compared to nonsmokers, tobacco smokers selected to view significantly more tobacco images and less pleasant (non-drug reinforcer) images, a profile that remained stable at retest. Individual differences in choice of tobacco as compared to pleasant images on the PIC task were associated with craving but not with the other tobacco dependence measures, suggesting that the task may serve as a behavioral proxy measure of drug "wanting" rather than of cumulative nicotine exposure or physical dependence. Conclusions: these results suggest that the PIC task can be a valuable tool for objectively assessing craving-associated tobacco seeking in TUD.

Duration of the effectiveness of nicotine electronic cigarettes on smoking cessation and reduction: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The success of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation in real-life remains limited, with a significant number of long-term relapses. Despite first promising results, the duration of the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes is still unknown. Our objective was to assess the duration of the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes on smoking cessation and reduction in daily smokers. Methods: The databases EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov and PUBMED were consulted until March 23, 2022. We selected only randomized controlled trials with daily adult smokers. The intervention was the nicotinic electronic cigarette vs. non-nicotine electronic cigarette or other validated pharmacotherapies (varenicline, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy). The minimum duration of the intervention was 3 months, with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Two independent reviewers used the PRISMA guidelines. The primary endpoint was smoking cessation at the end of the intervention and follow-up periods confirmed by a reduction in expired CO < 10 ppm. The reduction was defined as at least 50% of the initial consumption or by a decrease of daily mean cigarette consumption at the end of the intervention and follow-up periods. Results: Abstinence at the end of the intervention and follow-up periods was significantly higher in the nicotine electronic cigarette group, compared to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) [respectively: RR: 1.37 (CI 95%: 1.32-2.93) and RR: 1.49 (CI 95%: 1.14-1.95)] and to the non-nicotine electronic cigarette condition [respectively: RR: 1.97 (CI 95%: 1.18-2.68) and RR: 1.66 (CI 95%: 1.01-2.73)]. With regard to smoking reduction, the electronic cigarette with nicotine is significantly more effective than NRT at the end of the intervention and follow-up periods [respectively RR: 1.48 (CI 95%: 1.04-2.10) and RR: 1.47 (CI 95%: 1.18-1.82)] and non-nicotine electronic cigarette in the long term [RR: 1.31 (CI 95%: 1.02-1.68)]. Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows the duration of the effectiveness of the nicotine electronic cigarette vs. non-nicotine electronic cigarette and NRT on smoking cessation and reduction. There are still uncertainties about the risks of its long-term use and its potential role as a gateway into smoking, particularly among young people.

Effectiveness of drugs acting on adrenergic receptors in the treatment for tobacco or alcohol use disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of drugs directly acting on alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in the treatment of patients suffering from tobacco or alcohol use disorder. METHODS: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, studies were identified through PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and clinicaltrial.gov. We selected only randomized controlled trials with adult patients with tobacco or alcohol use disorders according to DSM-5 criteria. Interventions included any molecule having a direct pharmacological action on alpha- or beta-adrenergic receptors (agonist or antagonist). Comparators were placebo or other validated pharmacotherapies. The duration of the intervention was a minimum of 1 month, with 3 months of follow-up. Measurements included smoking cessation for tobacco; for alcohol, we selected abstinence, alcohol consumption (drinks per day or week) and heavy drinking days (HDD). Ten studies with tobacco and six with alcohol use disorder were included in the qualitative synthesis and fifteen studies in the quantitative analysis. RESULTS: We found that clonidine, an alpha-2 agonist, significantly increased smoking abstinence [relative risk = 1.39 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04, 1.84]. Beta-blockers had no significant effect on smoking abstinence. The alpha-1 antagonists prazosin and doxazosin decreased alcohol consumption [SMD = -0.32 (-0.56, -0.07)] but had no effect on abstinence or HDD. CONCLUSIONS: The noradrenaline system may represent a promising mechanism to target in tobacco and alcohol use disorders.

Detection of adolescent suicidality in primary care: an international utility study of the bullying-insomnia-tobacco-stress test.

AIM: General practitioners (GPs) are ideally placed to identify suicidality in adolescents. However, adolescents are often reluctant to confide in their GPs about these problems, and GPs are not comfortable when questioning them about suicide. We previously proposed the BITS test, a set of four opening and four additional questions, to alert doctors about possible suicidality in an adolescent. We validated its use in the identification of suicidality ("frequent suicidal ideation or suicide attempts at one time or another)" in 15-year-old adolescents in a school setting. The objective of the present study was to assess the detection utility of this method in 13-to-18-year-olds in primary care. METHODS: We carried out a screening utility study in general practices in 17 French-speaking sites in four countries and three continents. Each GP was instructed to use the bullying, insomnia, tobacco, stress (BITS) test with five to ten 13-to-18-year-old adolescents, consulting consecutively, for any reason. They subsequently asked them questions about their suicidality. RESULTS: One hundred and two GPs tested a total of 693 adolescents; 13.0% of the adolescents (girls 15.4%, boys 9.9%) reported suicidality (1.6% known, 11.4% previously unknown). A score of at least 3 on the BITS scale was associated with suicidality (sensitivity: 65.9, specificity: 82.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The BITS test is a pragmatic instrument, alerting the GP to an adolescent's previously unknown suicidability, whatever the reason for consultation.

Motivations for using electronic cigarettes in young adults: A systematic review.

Background: The most common reasons why adults use e-cigarettes are to stop or reduce tobacco smoking. However, it is unclear if this reason is evenly distributed between young and older adults. Objectives: describe the motivations for e-cigarette use amongst young adults aged 18-25 and compare the reasons for using e-cigarettes of people who currently or formerly used tobacco products to those who had never smoked tobacco prior e-cigarette use. Methods: PubMed®, Scopus®, Cochrane Library®, SocINDEX®, PsycARTICLES®, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection® and PsycINFO® databases were used. English written articles were screened up to March 2018. Depending on study design, quality was assessed using The STROBE or RATS checklists. Results: Six articles were included in the review, all with a moderate quality of evidence. Independently of smoking status, curiosity was the most frequently reported reason for initiating the use of e-cigarettes in young adults. Reasons for continuing to use e-cigarettes were various. The continued use of e-cigarettes could be either a means to replicate smoking habits, or a way for a different and personalized use of nicotine by inhalation. Conclusions: Reasons for using e-cigarettes in young adults are varied and are not limited to stopping smoking.

[Relevancy and efficacy of advanced nursing practice in private practice to promote smoking cessation]. / Pertinence et efficacité d'une pratique infirmière avancée en libéral dans le sevrage tabagique.

Raising awareness of the harmful effects of smoking on health and supporting smokers who wish to quit are important public health challenges. The involvement of nurses in these specific healthcare actions targeting the motivation to change seems to be a promising approach as revealed by a study summarised in this article.

[Efficacy and security of electronic cigarette for tobacco harm reduction: Systematic review and meta-analysis]. / Efficacité et sécurité de la cigarette électronique pour la réduction du tabagisme : revue systématique et méta-analyse.

CONTEXT: Smoking is the first cause of preventable death in France and in the world. Without help, it was shown that 80 % of smokers who try to quit smoking relapse after one month with a low long-term success rate. Smoking reduction can concern smokers who did not want to quit or failed in their attempt to weaning. The final aim is to increase attractiveness of drug therapies by developing new products, such as electronic cigarettes, that can compete cigarette without reproducing its harmful effects. OBJECTIVE: Assess the capacity of electronic cigarettes to reduce or stop tobacco use among regular smokers. DATA SOURCES: Consultations MEDLINE and COCHRANE databases. KEYWORDS: e-cigarette; electronic cigarettes; ENDD (electronic nicotine delivery system); ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery device); vaping were used. TRIAL SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the electronic cigarette with nicotine versus placebo device. RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials were included in the quantitative analysis. The nicotine electronic cigarette users have tobacco consumption significantly decreased compared to the placebo group (RR: 1.30, 95 % CI [1.02 to 1.66]) at 6 months. Smoking cessation rate at 3 months was greater with the electronic cigarette contains nicotine (RR: 2.55, 95 % CI [1.31 to 4.98]). LIMITS: The small number of RCTs included does not allow definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes, especially in the medium to long term. CONCLUSION: The use of electronic cigarette with nicotine decreases tobacco consumption among regular smokers. Further studies are needed to specify electronic cigarettes safety profile and its ability to cause a reduction in consumption and a long-term cessation in smokers.