Individuals high in anxiety sensitivity (AS), a cognitive risk factor denoting a fear of anxiety-related sensations (Reiss & McNally, 1985), may be at increased risk of misinterpreting nicotine withdrawal-relevant interoceptive cues as harmful, thus amplifying their risk for panic problems. This study tested the moderating role of AS on the association between nicotine withdrawal and panic-relevant responding to a carbon dioxide-enriched air laboratory challenge. Specifically, it was hypothesized that AS moderates the relation between nicotine withdrawal (group status) and responding to a carbon dioxide-enriched air procedure (controlling for anticipatory anxiety, gender, negative affectivity, number of axis I diagnoses, and average daily smoking rate), as indexed by: (1) level of anxiety focused on bodily sensations and intensity of panic attack symptoms; (2) skin conductance reactivity; and (3) level of behavioral avoidance of a future challenge. To test this hypothesis, 90 daily smokers (35 women; Mage = 28.87, SD = 12.12, Range = 18-60 years) were enrolled and enlisted to attend two study sessions. At the conclusion of the first session, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (12-hour nicotine deprivation or smoking ‗as usual‘). At the second scheduled session, participants in both groups underwent a 10% carbon dioxide-enriched air laboratory challenge to assess panic-relevant responding. Contrary to hypothesis, the AS by nicotine withdrawal (group status) interactive effect was not significantly predictive of post-challenge anxiety, panic attack symptoms, skin conductance reactivity, or behavioral avoidance. However, post hoc tests indicated that the AS by nicotine withdrawal (group status) interaction was significantly predictive of peri-challenge anxiety ratings. Furthermore, post hoc tests demonstrated that between-group (significant) differences in withdrawal symptoms diminished after the first assessment of the challenge session. Results are discussed in the context of the theoretical and clinical implications of the current work, limitations of the current study, and future directions for work relevant to this line of inquiry.

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Nicotine addiction continues to be a leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Despite the plethora of available treatments for smoking cessation, smoking relapse after attempts to quit remains high. It is possible that impairments in cognitive flexibility and underlying neurochemical circuits in nicotine addicts may foster maladaptive behaviors that affect individuals’ ability to refrain from taking drugs. Here we characterized the effects of spontaneous nicotine withdrawal on cognitive flexibility in mice using an operant strategy set-shifting task. Because frontostriatal circuits are critical for cognitive flexibility and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates glutamate plasticity, we also explored the effects of nicotine withdrawal on these neurochemical substrates. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were trained in an operant task that required the animals to switch from using a spatial response-driven strategy to a visual cue-based strategy to achieve rewards. Mice were exp / Psychology

Tobacco dependence is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Despite currently available smoking cessation therapies, there is a high rate of relapse in smoking among those attempting to quit. While the somatic signs of nicotine withdrawal (insomnia, increased appetite, weight gain) contribute to the continuation of smoking behavior, it has been hypothesized that the affective signs (depression, anxiety, craving, irritability) are greater motivators of relapse and continued tobacco use. There are few studies that assess the molecular and receptor-mediated mechanisms of nicotine withdrawal; therefore, our studies focus on identifying the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes and post-receptor calcium-dependent mechanisms involved in nicotine withdrawal behaviors. Using precipitated, spontaneous, and conditioned place aversion (CPA) models, we measured physical and affective signs of nicotine withdrawal in mice. Our data show that major nAChR subtypes have differential roles in nicotine withdrawal. Additionally, our results suggest a behavioral relevance for L-type calcium channels in physical nicotine withdrawal signs, while calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) appears to be involved in both physical and affective withdrawal behaviors. Additionally, we conducted biochemical studies in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) to examine the relationship between altered withdrawal behavioral responses and calcium-dependent molecular mechanisms that contribute to nicotine withdrawal behaviors. Our results suggest an important role for β2-containing nAChRs in nicotine-withdrawal induced decreases in CaMKII and synapsin I function in the NAc. Overall, our studies implicate a critical role for the α4α6β2* nAChR subtype in the behavioral and molecular aspects of nicotine withdrawal, thus aiding in the elucidation of nAChR subunits and mechanisms that contribute to nicotine withdrawal behaviors. The current studies are imperative for generating more successful smoking cessation therapies.

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The aim of this thesis is to draw attention to the serious problem of drug addiction among adolescents who are abusing addictive substances or marijuana. This increasingly important issue is discussed a lot, but very often neglected by the society. This thesis provides definitions and characteristics of individual drugs and their effects on adolescents. The need for prevention and treatment of adolescent clients is emphasized, alongside with the family support, which is often crucial. In the practical part, the author of the thesis focuses on organizations that are critically important in this field. These organizations focus on prevention, counseling services, social inclusion and treatment facilities (inpatient and outpatient services), etc. Their characteristics and methods of client treatment are described. Furthermore, in this work the author presents a survey that confirms the findings of some detailed quantitative research papers. The main findings are that drug abuse is a major problem of this century and also a burden on society, especially on the adolescents themselves. The solution is very complicated and time consuming, but everyone can contribute by not being indifferent to this problem.