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P-124 - Preliminary Results on the Effects of Nicotine Withdrawal on Laboratory Induced Panic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

B. Amendola
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
N. Lazzarini
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
F. Cosci
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Abstract

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Introduction

Cigarettes smoking may increase the likelihood to develop panic. A recent hypothesis suggests that a cognitive mechanism, triggered by nicotine withdrawal symptoms, would be the pathogenetic explanation of the co-occurrence between cigarette smoking and panic.

Objectives

The literature on alcohol use disorders shows that alcohol withdrawal favors the onset of panic via a biological mechanism called kindling. Thus, nicotine withdrawal might be the possible biological explanation of the co-occurrence between cigarette smoking and panic.

Aims

To study the biological effects of nicotine withdrawal on a panic like response induced by the Breath Holding test (BH).

Methods

We run a cross-over design study on current smokers. Each subject received both nicotine and placebo in two different test days according to a randomized, double blind order. Thereafter, they underwent the BH. The panic-like response to the challenge was evaluated measuring blood pressure, heart rate, subjective (Visual Analogue Anxiety Scale - VAAS) and objective anxiety (Panic Symptom List - PSL).

Results

28 subjects (13 females and 15 males) with a mean age of 31.0 ± 10.2 years were studied. At baseline the two conditions did not differ. At pre-test, subjects under nicotine had significantly higher blood pressure and heart rate than under placebo. No statistically significant results were found for the effects of nicotine on the BH response and subjects under nicotine had a longer breath holding time than under placebo.

Conclusions

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms seem not to affect the response to the BH in current smokers.

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2012
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