Cardiovascular responses to a quantified dose of nicotine as a function of personality and nicotine tolerance

J Behav Med. 1990 Oct;13(5):505-21. doi: 10.1007/BF00844835.

Abstract

Correlations between cardiovascular effects of a quantified dose of nicotine and personality measures previously shown to predict coronary heart disease were obtained. Thirty male smokers smoked a popular brand of a regular strength cigarette (1.0 mg FTC-estimated nicotine delivery) on one occasion and a nicotine-free cigarette on another occasion by means of a quantified smoke delivery system. Partial correlations controlling for effects of body weight, questionnaire-assessed nicotine tolerance, and cardiovascular responses to the nicotine-free control cigarette showed Jenkins Activity Survey Type A scores to correlate positively with nicotine-induced increase in diastolic blood pressure but negatively with nicotine-induced increase in systolic blood pressure. Partial correlations indicated that trait anxiety and depression were significantly associated with nicotine-induced heart rate increases but not with nicotine-induced blood pressure responses.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal / drug effects*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Tolerance
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nicotine / administration & dosage
  • Nicotine / adverse effects*
  • Personality Tests
  • Smoking / psychology*
  • Type A Personality*

Substances

  • Nicotine