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Single dose propranolol does not affect physiologic or emotional reactivity to smoking cues

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 April 2015

Abstract

Background

Smoking cue exposure reactivates salient smoking-related memories, triggering craving to smoke, a phenomenon associated with maintenance of smoking behavior and relapse after periods of abstinence. Acute β-adrenergic blockade with propranolol reduces physiologic reactivity during subsequent recollection of traumatic events by inhibiting reconsolidation of reactivated memories in a process called memory reconsolidation blockade.

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine whether a single dose of propranolol prior to retrieval of smoking-related memories reduces subsequent physiologic reactivity to personally salient smoking imagery scripts in current smokers.

Methods

Fifty-four overnight-abstinent, adult smokers received a single-dose propranolol or placebo prior to reactivation of smoking-related memories in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and resumed smoking afterward. One week later, skin conductance (SC), heart rate (HR), left corrugator electromyogram (EMG), self-reported emotional state, and craving were assessed following script-driven imagery with neutral and personalized smoking-related scripts.

Results

Smoking scripts were associated with increased physiologic activation (SC, HR, EMG), craving, and negative emotional state compared with neutral scripts. Propranolol did not moderate the effect of script type on any outcome.

Conclusion

Personalized smoking script-driven imagery robustly increased physiologic activation, negative emotional state, and craving, and a single dose of propranolol prior to memory reactivation did not moderate this effect.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff of the MGH PTSD physiology laboratory for their assistance in this study.

Funding

This study was funded by NIDA R21 DA025186, Memory Reconsolidation Blockade as a Novel Intervention for Nicotine Dependence (Evins), K24 DA030443, Mentoring in Addiction Research (Evins), R25DA026401, K01 DA DA034093 (Gilman), and K01 DA02709 (Hoeppner).

Conflict of interest

Dr. Evins has received a research grant support from Pfizer, Envivo Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, and GSK and has consulted to Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim. Drs. Pachas, Gilman, Orr, Pitman, Loebl, Nino, and Hoeppner and Ms. Carlini have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Gladys N. Pachas, Jodi Gilman, Scott P. Orr, Bettina Hoeppner, Sara V. Carlini, Tsafrir Loebl, Johanna Nino, Roger K. Pitman & A. Eden Evins

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gladys N. Pachas, Jodi Gilman, Scott P. Orr, Bettina Hoeppner, Roger K. Pitman & A. Eden Evins

  3. Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Addiction Medicine, 60 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Gladys N. Pachas, Jodi Gilman, Bettina Hoeppner & A. Eden Evins

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  1. Gladys N. Pachas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Eden Evins.

Additional information

Gladys N. Pachas and Jodi M. Gilman contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Pachas, G.N., Gilman, J., Orr, S.P. et al. Single dose propranolol does not affect physiologic or emotional reactivity to smoking cues. Psychopharmacology 232, 1619–1628 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3797-6

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