Despite increasing knowledge and public awareness about the link between cigarette smoking and adverse health outcomes such as lung cancer and coronary heart disease, nearly 24% of U.S. adults smoke cigarettes, and the smoking prevalence rates in women (22%) and men (26%) have remained relatively constant since 1990. Women's health is of particular concern, since studies show that female smokers may suffer greater health risks than men, and their annual tobacco-related deaths are rapidly approaching those of men. Advances have been made in smoking cessation strategies, but relapse to smoking is still common in people attempting to quit, especially in women who appear to relapse faster and more completely than men, and for whom nicotine patches and gum may be less effective in reducing craving for cigarettes and other withdrawal symptoms. The long-term goal of this research is to decrease smoking prevalence among women through the development of evidence-based smoking cessation strategies - strategies specifically tailored to women's unique physiological responses to nicotine and which address specific barriers to cessation (e.g., withdrawal, negative affect focusing on depressive symptoms, and weight gain), many of which in clinical studies have been shown to have gender-specific influences.
The specific aims of this competing renewal are (1) to determine how smoking relapse rates are influenced by the menstrual cycle phase in which smoking cessation is initiated, and (2) to determine the impact of phase during smoking abstinence on potential relapse-related factors: withdrawal and premenstrual symptoms, weight gain, and negative affect, focusing specifically on depressive symptoms. A final, secondary aim will be to identify the cycle phase during which study participants are most likely to relapse following a repeat quit attempt. The proposed 3-year study is a randomized clinical treatment trial [it isn't controlled] of smoking cessation in women (N = 200). Participants enrolled as outpatients will be randomized into two groups for smoking quit dates timed to occur during a particular menstrual cycle phase (follicular or late luteal). Through biochemical testing, participant self-report, and written survey instruments, data will be collected and analyzed over the 26-week treatment period on the following outcomes: smoking status (relapsed/non-relapsed), withdrawal and premenstrual symptomatology, negative affect focusing on depressive symptoms, and the physiological measures of weight, heart rate, and blood pressure. The rationale underlying this research is that once the effects of menstrual cycle phase on these outcomes are understood, the results can be used to inform the development of optimal treatment interventions for women smokers which account for physiologic influences and thereby minimize barriers to starting and maintaining smoking abstinence. Furthermore, this study is expected to provide a framework for future research investigating gender differences in nicotine response, withdrawal, and other cessation-related variables.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA008075-10S1
Application #
6937029
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Montoya, Ivan
Project Start
1993-03-01
Project End
2006-04-30
Budget Start
2004-08-06
Budget End
2006-04-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$23,977
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Family Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Kia, Farnaaz; Tosun, Nicole; Carlson, Samantha et al. (2018) Examining characteristics associated with quitting smoking during pregnancy and relapse postpartum. Addict Behav 78:114-119
Carlson, Samantha C; Allen, Alicia M; Allen, Sharon S et al. (2017) Differences in mood and cortisol by menstrual phase during acute smoking abstinence: A within-subject comparison. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 25:338-345
Wetherill, Reagan R; Franklin, Teresa R; Allen, Sharon S (2016) Ovarian hormones, menstrual cycle phase, and smoking: a review with recommendations for future studies. Curr Addict Rep 3:1-8
Allen, Alicia M; al'Absi, Mustafa; Lando, Harry et al. (2015) Allopregnanolone association with psychophysiological and cognitive functions during acute smoking abstinence in premenopausal women. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 23:22-8
Hinderaker, Katie; Allen, Alicia M; Tosun, Nicole et al. (2015) The effect of combination oral contraceptives on smoking-related symptomatology during short-term smoking abstinence. Addict Behav 41:148-51
Huttlin, Eileen A; Allen, Alicia M; Tosun, Nicole L et al. (2015) Associations between adrenocortical activity and nicotine response in female smokers by menstrual phase. Addict Behav 50:135-9
Weinberger, Andrea H; Smith, Philip H; Allen, Sharon S et al. (2015) Systematic and meta-analytic review of research examining the impact of menstrual cycle phase and ovarian hormones on smoking and cessation. Nicotine Tob Res 17:407-21
Allen, Alicia M; Lunos, Scott; Heishman, Stephen J et al. (2015) Subjective response to nicotine by menstrual phase. Addict Behav 43:50-3
Allen, Sharon S; Allen, Alicia M; Tosun, Nicole et al. (2014) Smoking- and menstrual-related symptomatology during short-term smoking abstinence by menstrual phase and depressive symptoms. Addict Behav 39:901-6
Allen, Alicia M; Oncken, Cheryl; Hatsukami, Dorothy (2014) Women and Smoking: The Effect of Gender on the Epidemiology, Health Effects, and Cessation of Smoking. Curr Addict Rep 1:53-60

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