Smoking behavior, dysphoric states and the menstrual cycle: results from single smoking sessions and the natural environment

A 2-way factorial repeated measures design examined the effects of menstrua l cycle phase and smoking on: 1) smoking behavior, 2) mood state, 3) nicoti ne withdrawal symptomatology, and 4) menstrual symptomatology. Female smoke rs, aged 20-39, were followed for two consecutive menstrual cycles with two data collection sessions per cycle, which were conducted in the University 's General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). Participants were randomly assi gned to order of smoking condition, which included: 1) smoking ad libitum, and 2) 24-hour abstinence prior to data collection. Data were collected in the mid-to-late follicular (MLF) phase (between days 6 through to 11) and t he four days prior to menses in late luteal (LL) phase. Participants comple ted the Profile of Mood States and Menstrual Symptom Severity List and reco rded daily cigarette smoking rate in the natural environment during MLF and LL phases. Nicotine boost and carbon monoxide (CO) boost were measured and the Shiffman-Jarvick Tobacco Withdrawal Questionnaire was administered dur ing GCRC data collection sessions. Results indicated that subjects smoked m ore cigarettes per day during the LL phase and CO boost was greater during MLF. No difference was noted in nicotine boost by condition or phase. No di fference in mood state was noted by either condition or phase. Withdrawal s ymptomatology and craving for cigarettes were increased after 24 hours of a bstinence. No difference was noted in menstrual symptoms by condition or ph ase. Further investigations are still needed to characterize the importance of cycle phase in the design of smoking cessation interventions for women of reproductive age. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.