The effects of cigarette smoking on pain and anxiety

Abstract

The antinociceptive and anxiolytic consequences of smoking a nicotine-containing cigarette or a zero-nicotine cigarette were investigated in minimally deprived habitual smokers, using a within-subject design. Five subjects were studied in each of two experiments. In one, pain was induced using the cold pressor test; in the other, anxiety, using unsolvable anagrams. All subjects exhibited pain- and anxiety-reduction after smoking a nicotine-containing cigarette. The results support the hypothesis that nicotine from smoking can produce psychological changes that are independent of the state of nicotine withdrawal.