Personality, psychopathology, and nicotine response as mediators of the genetics of smoking

Abstract

Individual differences in psychopathology, personality, and nicotine responsivity and their biological bases are evaluated as mechanisms potentially mediating smoking heritability. Smokers are more likely to be high in neurotic traits (e.g., depression, anxiety, anger) and in social alienation (psychoticism, impulsivity, unsocialized sensation-seeking, low conscientiousness, low agreeableness) and low in achievement/socioeconomic status. Psychological and biological mechanisms putatively mediating these associations are reviewed. It is concluded that a number of relatively indirect and complex processes, as well as more direct (e.g., self-medication for psychopathology, nicotine sensitivity), mediate the inheritance of smoking behavior.

Influence of nicotine on positive affect in anhedonic smokers

“…Although the pharmacologic effects of nicotine on mood are well established (Gilbert et al 1998;Masson and Gilbert 1990;Perkins et al 1992), there appears to be considerable individual variation in affective responsiveness to nicotine (Gilbert and Gilbert 1995). The present study demonstrated that individual differences in anhedonia moderated the magnitude of nicotine's effect on positive affect during a positive mood induction.…”

Elevated positive mood: A mixed blessing for abstinence.

“…Neal Doran, Bonnie Spring, Belinda Borrelli, Dennis E. McChargue, Brian Hitsman, Raymond Niaura, and Donald Hedecker This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska -Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/279 uniformly accepted (Warner & Burns, 2003), its expression has prompted interest in identifying psychological and/or biological conditions that impede the ability of some continuing smokers to quit successfully (Gilbert & Gilbert, 1995;Gilbert, Gilbert, & Schulz, 1998).…”

Um estudo comparativo entre características de personalidade de universitários fumantes, ex-fumantes e não-fumantes

“…It is possible that some extravert smokers have been punished in situations of social interaction, which may have contributed to a decrease in the association between smoking and extraversion. [39][40][41] Literature regarding the N factor is not consistent as well. This work has not found an association between smoking and the S scale of CPS.…”

“…More neurotic individuals seem to be less inclined to quit smoking, even with all the pressure the society imposes him, and can feel more intensely the effects of nicotine as compared to most emotionally stable individuals. 39,41 However, the most recent literature is still controversial about that association. 7,16,17,20,28,33,43 Several reasons for such divergences are provided.…”