PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF TOBACCO DEPENDENCE

The present work reviews the following aspects of smoking. First, the middle and long term pathological consequences which have been found t o be related to tobacco consumption. Second, the neuropharmacological effects of nicotine, psychoactive substance found in tobacco, which ar e involved in the development of tolerance and physical dependence, an d the behavioral changes on vigilance, learning, memory and subjective perception. In addition, the short term modifications produced by smo king on biochemical and psychophysiological parameters which explain t he development of physical dependence and pathological problems are su mmarized. Finally, the classical theories on the behaviours of tobacco consumption together with its related problems are presented, emphasi zing the biobehavioral approach as the most powerful and complete expl anation as to why an individual begins and continues to smoke, and doe s it on a certain manner.