Callas, P. W. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2017

Development of a Self-Report Measure of Reward Sensitivity: A Test in Current and Former Smokers

IntroductionTobacco use or abstinence may increase or decrease reward sensitivity. Most existing measures of reward sensitivity were developed decades ago, and few have undergone extensive psychometric testing.\n\nMethodsWe developed a 58-item survey of the anticipated enjoyment from, wanting for, and frequency of common rewards (the Rewarding Events Inventory - REI). The current analyses focuses on ratings of anticipated enjoyment. The first validation study recruited current and former smokers from internet sites. The second study recruited smokers who wished to quit and monetarily reinforced them to stay abstinent in a laboratory study, and a comparison group of former smokers. In both studies, participants completed the inventory on two occasions, 3-7 days apart. They also completed four anhedonia scales and a behavioral test of reduced reward sensitivity.\n\nResultsHalf of the enjoyment ratings loaded on four factors: socializing, active hobbies, passive hobbies, and sex/drug use. Cronbach alpha coefficients were all [≥] 0.73 for overall mean and factor scores. Test-retest correlations were all [≥] 0.83. Correlations of the overall and factor scores with frequency of rewards, anhedonia scales were 0.19 - 0.53, except for the sex/drugs factor. The scores did not correlate with behavioral tests of reward and did not differ between current and former smokers. Lower overall mean enjoyment score predicted a shorter time to relapse.\n\nDiscussionInternal reliability and test-retest reliability of the enjoyment outcomes of the REI are excellent, and construct and predictive validity are modest but promising. The REI is comprehensive and up-to-date, yet is short enough to use on repeated occasions. Replication tests, especially predictive validity tests, are needed.\n\nImplicationsBoth use of and abstinence from nicotine appears to increase or decrease how rewarding non-drug rewards are; however, self-report scales to test this have limitations. Our inventory of enjoyment from 58 rewards appears to be reliable and valid as well as comprehensive and up-to-date, yet is short enough to use on repeated occasions. Replication tests, especially of the predictive validity of our scale, are needed.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Does tobacco abstinence decrease reward sensitivity? A human laboratory test

IntroductionAnimal studies report abstinence from nicotine makes rewards less rewarding; however, the results of human tests of the effects of cessation on reward sensitivity are mixed. The current study tested reward sensitivity in abstinent smokers using more rigorous methods than most prior studies.\n\nMethodsA human laboratory study compared outcomes for 1 week prior to quitting to those during 4 weeks post-quit. The study used smokers trying to quit, objective and subjective measures, multiple measures during smoking and abstinence, and monetary rewards to increase the prevalence of abstinence. Current daily smokers (n = 211) who were trying to quit completed an operant measure of reward sensitivity and a survey of pleasure from various rewards as well as self-reports of anhedonia, delay discounting, positive affect and tobacco withdrawal twice each week. A comparison group of long-term former smokers (n = 67) also completed the tasks weekly for 4 weeks. Primary analyses were based on the 61 current smokers who abstained for all 4 weeks.\n\nResultsStopping smoking decreased self-reported pleasure from rewards but did not decrease reward sensitivity on the operant task. Abstinence also decreased self-reported reward frequency and increased the two anhedonia measures. However, the changes with abstinence were small for all outcomes (6-14%) and most lasted less than a week.\n\nConclusionAbstinence from tobacco decreased most self-report measures of reward sensitivity; however, it did not change the objective measure. The self-report effects were small.\n\nImplicationsO_LIAnimal research suggests that nicotine withdrawal decreases reward sensitivity. Replication tests of this in humans have produced inconsistent results.\nC_LIO_LIWe report what we believe is a more rigorous test\nC_LIO_LIWe found smoking abstinence slightly decreases self-reports of reward sensitivity but does not do so for behavioral measures of reward sensitivity\nC_LI

neuroscience↗