Stress response dysregulation and stress-induced analgesia in nicotine dependent men and women

Abstract

Alterations in the stress response and endogenous pain regulation mechanisms may contribute directly and indirectly to maintenance of nicotine dependence and relapse. We examined the extent to which nicotine dependence alters endogenous pain regulatory systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, cardiovascular activity, and stress-induced analgesia. Smokers and nonsmokers attended a laboratory session that included assessment of hormonal and cardiovascular responses to stress. Smokers smoked at their regular rate prior to the session. The hand cold pressor and heat thermal pain tests were completed twice, once after acute stress (public speaking and math tasks) and the other after rest. While smokers and nonsmokers exhibited significant hormonal and cardiovascular responses to stress, smokers exhibited blunted stress responses relative to nonsmokers. They also exhibited diminished stress-induced analgesia. Results demonstrate altered stress response and diminished stress-induced analgesia among chronic smokers, and suggest that these dysregulated physiological responding may contribute to altered endogenous pain regulation.

Changes in Biochemical Markers of Pain Perception and Stress Response After Spinal Manipulation

“…10 Cortisol has been found to correlate inversely with pain intensity, and in this sense, a specific increase of cortisol has been proven to have an antinociceptive effect. 1 Cortisol concentration was determined in serum samples using the microparticulate enzyme immuno assay in the AxSYM analyzer (Abbott Labo-…”

Sex Differences in Hormonal Responses to Stress and Smoking Relapse: A Prospective Examination

“…Order of task was also included since the timing of stress tasks was different across participants due to the administration of the stress induced analgesia in the larger study. 39,40 Covariates included recruitment site and stressor task order, as these variable were found to be associated with either independent or dependent variables. Demographic information, trait negative affect, smoking variables, and hormonal samples at the initial baseline were analyzed by a series of one-way ANOVA using sex as a between factor or chisquare tests.…”

“…Preliminary data on those have been published elsewhere. 39,40 Due to the focus on relapse prediction, this article includes only smokers who were tested during ad libitum smoking and during the initial period of abstinence, and were followed over a 4-week period to examine their risk for relapse. Ninety-eight smokers (46 women) were included in the current study which was conducted in two sites (Duluth and Minneapolis, MN) to maximize the recruitment numbers.…”

Family Hardships and Serum Cotinine in Children With Asthma

“…There are many plausible explanations for the relationship of hardships and tobacco exposure. Downward social mobility and economic stress in childhood and adulthood are noted risk factors for 29 ; smokers exhibit diminished stress response, increasing the likelihood of relapse due to hardships during abstinence 30,31 ; and family hardships may constrain housing choices, which could limit the ability to create a smoke-free environment. 32 Another plausible explanation of increased exposure includes reverse causality, in which increased hardships are not directly associated with increased level of cotinine; rather, increased levels of cotinine are associated with increased hardships.…”