EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THERMAL PAIN THRESHOLD IN DEPRIVED AND MINIMALLY-DEPRIVED HABITUAL SMOKERS

This study examined the antinociceptive effects of smoking in nine habitual smokers under deprived (12 h) and minimally-deprived ( < 30 min) conditions. Pain threshold for thermal stimuli, heart rate, blood pressure and ratings of mood, arousal, dominance and well-being were assessed before and after smoking a cigarette. Overall, smoking affected all measured variables in the expected direction, leading to increased physiological activity, elevated pain threshold and improved mood. However, most of these effects depended on the deprivation status of the subjects, such that smoking after deprivation increased pain threshold whereas smoking after minimal deprivation did not. Pain threshold before smoking was the same for both groups. Deprived subjects had lower pre-smoke diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arousal levels, which rose to equal minimally-deprived subjects' scores after smoking.