Transdiagnostic risk factors and the relative reinforcing efficacy of cigarettes

Distress intolerance (DI) and negative urgency (NU) are risk factors characterizing internalizing disorders and cigarette smoking. The transdiagnostic emotional vulnerabilities model suggests that such risk factors may explain the association between internalizing disorders and smoking wherein smokers with internalizing pathology may smoke to reduce affective distress. However, little research has examined whether DI and NU affect the relative reinforcing efficacy (RRE) of cigarettes in the context of affective distress. The current study utilized a multi-method approach to examine the interactive effects of DI or NU and condition on subjective and behavioral indices of the RRE of cigarettes. No significant interactive effects of DI or NU and condition on the RRE of cigarettes were observed. Trending interactions emerged for DI and condition on one index of cigarette demand, and trending interactions emerged for NU and condition on two indices of puff topography. Main effects of sex, condition, and NU on indices of RRE were also observed. These preliminary findings suggest different conditional effects of affective distress for DI and NU on the RRE of cigarettes.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference