The Relationship between Mood, Craving and Nicotine Consumption in the Daily Life of Opioid Addicted Patients

The Relationship between Mood, Craving and Nicotine Consumption in the Daily Life of Opioid Addicted Patients Background: Negative mood and craving have often been demonstrated as triggers of the initial reuse of a psychoactive substance after an abstinent period. Little is known about triggers of ad libitum consumption. The aims of the present study were 2-fold: (1) to analyze the influence of negative mood on the amount of the ad libitum cigarette consumption, and (2) to clarify the role of craving as a mediator in this relationship. Patients and Methods: Mood, craving, and the amount of cigarette consumption were assessed in an opioid-addicted convenience sample (N = 29) using electronic diaries. Data were collected during 1 week, 4 times per day at fixed, individually set time points and analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Increased negative mood ratings at 10 min before consumption and at the preceding measurement point were related to increased cigarette consumption (p < 0.05). The influence of craving 30 min before consumption on the amount of cigarettes consumed just missed statistical significance (p = 0.09). The comparison of the direct effect of negative mood on the amount of consumption with the indirect effect mediated through craving showed that negative mood alone increased the amount of consumption, even without experienced craving. Conclusion: Findings support the notion that current negative mood can trigger cigarette consumption even without craving.